It is essential to safeguard your gaming setup after you have made an investment in it. This is especially true if you play online games on computers that are part of the same network as other computers in your home or workplace. While you are playing, other computers that are connected to the internet may also be at risk from online threats or cyberattacks.
While gaming online, there are precautions you can take to keep yourself safe. To begin with, make sure you have antivirus insurance turned on. Antivirus software, particularly one with a gaming mode, can enhance your online gaming experience in addition to protecting you from data theft and hackers! On a second note, consider using a VPN for gaming!
Continue reading to find out more about using a virtual private network (VPN) for gaming and how to select the best one. Explore the many reasons of using a VPN for gaming to help you decide if it is something you should invest in!
What is a VPN?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. This essentially means that a VPN offers you a private connection when using public networks. In other words, a VPN encrypts your internet traffic and masks and protects specific identifying information about you. A VPN’s encryption takes place in real-time, making it much harder for your personal information to be stolen.
How does a VPN work?
A virtual private network (VPN) works by routing your device’s internet connection through the private server of your chosen VPN instead of your ISP. This ensures that your data is transmitted to the internet from the VPN rather than your computer. As you connect to the internet, the VPN acts as a sort of intermediary, concealing your IP address, which is the string of numbers assigned to your device by your ISP, and safeguarding your identity.
Moreover, assuming your information is some way or another blocked, it will be muddled until it arrives at its last objective. This way, your internet service provider, and basically anybody else, will not be able to access your information or even see what you’ve been Googling. Look at it this way, say you are playing online poker and are looking for an extra layer of protection from cyber criminals; using a VPN will help you here!
Why Use a VPN while Gaming?
There are multiple reasons to use a VPN, and if you don’t know what it is used for, some helpful articles are available on the web. Let’s explore some of them here:
To protect yourself against swatting
There will always be something to protect yourself from, and it’s no different in gaming. There have been multiple cases worldwide where gamers stalk other gamers. This can occur for a range of reasons. But the most popular reason is that one gamer completely obliterated another gamer in a particular game. While there is absolutely no reason to stalk another person, it does happen. To avoid this, using a VPN for your online gaming sessions will mask your IP and protect your identity so no one can figure out who you are.
Play from any region
Certain games only allow you to play in the region you are in; this has to do with the servers the games are hosted on. Sometimes playing in your region can limit your progress and interaction with the game. Most gamers in Africa experience some form of limitation since the African region in games is often smaller and features far fewer players than North America. Here is where you can use a VPN.
But why are games geo-blocked? Well, this often occurs when a game has only been released in limited countries with limited languages. And, when games are extremely popular, they need multiple servers to run them. With a VPN, they usually have servers in multiple parts of the world. All you need to do is find the correct VPN service provider where you can play on the server outside of your region, and voila, you now have access to a server in North America and play with gamers there.
Helps to reduce lagging
Depending on where you are in the world, your internet service provider might offer the best-uncapped fiber internet that’s super fast. However, when you play your favorite online game, it still lags now and again. A VPN can help to reduce and sometimes eliminate lag or long ping times.
But why does this happen? For long ping times, this happens because the data needs time to send and receive on your device. Depending on your internet speed, it can be quick or super slow. A VPN quite literally reduces lag and ping times by connecting to the closest possible server to the game’s server. Remember that the closer you are to a server of a game, the better for the overall gaming experience. Therefore, most gamers use VPNs, especially to play first-person online games where you cannot pause.
Protect your information
VPNs are used by individuals to protect data stored on their devices or accessible via their network. VPNs can shield data from government surveillance or hackers who might be monitoring your online activities. When you connect to a virtual private network (VPN), only the VPN server can see encrypted statistics, protecting both your hardware and the data on it. And so, when playing online games, you should use a VPN to protect your personal information.
Get around IP bans
If a game doesn’t like the behavior of players from that IP address or if a player from that IP address breaks the rules, the game can ban that IP address. It is feasible to get around an IP ban by utilizing a VPN, which permits players to show up in the game from an alternate IP address. However, keep in mind that most online games’ terms of service prohibit using a VPN to circumvent IP bans.
Safely Game on Public Wi-Fi
You can stay safe by using a virtual private network (VPN) if you only have access to public Wi-Fi and still want to play games online. By using a virtual private network (VPN) to access a public Wi-Fi network, you can safeguard your computer’s data from intruders using the same network. By connecting to the same network as you, you also protect yourself from malware, spyware, and other cyber threats posed by people with access to your device.
Avoid connection throttle
If you use a lot of data while browsing the web, your ISP could throttle your speed — meaning they delay down the connection. VPNs are sometimes used by people who want to browse without worrying about being slowed down. To avoid experiencing throttle while using a VPN, select a service that does not impose data caps or limits.
How to Choose a VPN for Gaming?
There are a lot of VPNs available, so how do you pick the best one for gaming? The following are some things to keep in mind:
Server Location- Make sure you can access servers in the location you want or need when choosing a VPN. You might want to play a game that is only available in a specific region or that is only available in your area but not elsewhere. Make sure the VPN you pick has servers that will let you play the games and access the content you want.
Choose a secure, reliable VPN- Make sure that the VPN you select is secure and dependable. A VPN could empower admittance to a game you can’t in any case get to however won’t merit utilizing on the off chance that it opens you to digital dangers. Make sure the VPN for gaming you intend to use has a good reputation and provides a secure connection. This is absolutely necessary to guarantee that it protects you from DDoS attacks.
VPN option with no Data Cap- Data caps restrict the amount of data you can use. On some VPNs, this is a common feature. Playing games online can use a lot of data and bandwidth, you should make sure the VPN you choose won’t limit your data.
Check the Speed of VPN option- Make sure you select a speedy VPN. VPNs with servers in the right area won’t compromise your gaming experience. Your gaming experience will be negatively impacted if your VPN slows down your connection. If you want to keep playing your game smoothly, look for a VPN with a lot of high-bandwidth servers.
How to set up VPN for Gaming?
Using a VPN, you can protect your gaming activities in three different ways:
Install a VPN app: Install the VPN app of your choice on your gaming device. You can easily set up a good VPN on your gaming PC, laptop, or mobile device by downloading its apps for all major platforms.
Install it in on your router: You can install your preferred VPN on your Wi-Fi router to ensure your safety while gaming on your console. This implies that each gadget associated with it will be safeguarded by encryption.
Set it up yourself: You can set up your VPN on your devices yourself if you prefer a manual connection.
Important Note- VPNs are legal in many countries however you should take a look at your particular country’s regulations prior to utilizing one. For instance, while VPNs are lawful in China, they are limited and utilizing them can be seen as dubious way of behaving. In most cases, the way a VPN is used is what is illegal, not the VPN itself. Utilizing a virtual private network (VPN) to access titles at region-specific prices, for instance, may contravene a service provider’s terms of service and result in account suspension. Generally, it is against the law to torrent material protected by a copyright using a VPN. Check the laws in your specific country because jurisdictions vary!
Conclusion
Using a VPN while gaming can help you avoid a number of security issues, some of which are quite scary, whether you play on your smartphone, PC, or gaming console.
You can play games safely on public Wi-Fi, avoid bandwidth throttling, play geo-blocked games, play some new releases early, reduce lag and ping times, and protect yourself from DDoS attacks with a good gaming VPN!
Check out our post on the best VPNs for gaming to see which other premium VPNs made our top list for gaming.
