Looking at the MullvadVPN repository on GitHub, the features are summarized in a table. Among them are several features related to WireGuard obfuscation:
WireGuard over TCP
WireGuard over Shadowsocks
WireGuard over QUIC
Lightweight WireGuard Obfuscation (LWO)
You can learn about the technical aspects of these on Mullvad’s blog. However, even then, I’m still unclear on the advantages and disadvantages of these features, and how one should choose between them. Do you have any hints regarding their use cases?
If you’re in a country where the internet is heavily censored as I am temporarily at the moment, let me tell you it really helps having the obfuscation options.
If you maintain a consistent connection on your device, even standard Wireguard works well but it’s the worst on iOS. You always have to keep changing connections on iOS to get the VPN to remain active and working here.
But otherwise, I’ve not noticed any issues on macOS with Mullvad nor it’s obfuscation.
The reason I say this is because every now and then the government tries to crackdown on encrypted services including WhatsApp and all expats experience the pinch. Properly set up and infrequent changes to your network ensures you have access to the open internet or as you want it.
I’m not sure if this answers your questions but it certainly adds context to what you’re asking. Hope it helps.
You always have to keep changing connections on iOS to get the VPN to remain active and working here.
I originally wanted to use GrapheneOS anyway, and I plan to buy a used Pixel to avoid this connection issue.
I need to go to China for about two weeks. I’ll be doing work there that generates a lot of data traffic, so I plan to use the WiFi at hotels and other places I stay. Also, for that work, I’d prefer not to have my connection speed throttled.
So I want to avoid both speed degradation and blocking. QUIC obfuscation and LWO seem lighter and faster than Shadowsocks, so I’d like to use them, but there’s not much information on whether they work in China.
Also, if the GFW blocks Mullvad’s server IPs, I’ll likely need to contact Mullvad to prepare an IP override.
I recommend preparing for server override beforehand just in case.
Also, I don’t recommend changing servers often. And only use WiFi to connect to the internet. Cellular service or even personal hotspot connects are practically useless in such places.
I’m not anywhere near China but the issue would be the same I imagine.
Normally, the app will try every one of them until it works…
It really depends on the way your country does the censorship, but if all of them works LWO or Wireguard over QUIc should be more stable (haven’t tested them myself)