PPTP, or Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol, is a method used to create virtual private networks (VPNs). It allows users to securely connect to a private network over the internet by encapsulating data packets. This protocol was developed by Microsoft and other companies in the mid-1990s and is known for its ease of setup and use. Despite its simplicity, PPTP has some security vulnerabilities compared to more modern protocols. It uses a basic encryption method, which can be susceptible to attacks. As a result, many users and organizations now prefer more secure alternatives like L2TP or OpenVPN for their VPN needs.