A VPN (a virtual private network) provides an encrypted and secured web connection to every user’s device. When data transits through the VPN connection, it is private and protected against a variety of intrusions such as fake Wi-Fi.
A VPN is an essential online security tool for the gaming community. It’s important to have a VPN because gamers spend many hours on the internet and they give out a lot of data to others. It’s super important to protect yourself online. A premium VPN for gamers is just the ticket to maintain privacy and security. This VPN can also improve the gaming experience by:
- Masking your original location for wider access (improved availability)
- Protecting you from the dangers of cyber attackers (guaranteed security)
- Enhancing the overall game experience through better speeds, etc. (enhanced performance)
Improved Availability
With a VPN, you can access games not available in your area because of scheduled release dates. With a VPN connection, you have access to the latest game release the day it comes out, even if it’s not available in your location.
Some countries ban video games because of content or type. For example, Australia and Great Britain residents are blocked from downloading games depicting violence, sexuality, and drug use. If you live in Venezuela, you cannot download any game whose object is to shoot other human beings.
Then there are so-called IP bans where game manufacturers block user IP addresses. For example, a gamer might intentionally or inadvertently violate the terms of service or other game site rules. There have even been cases where users get IP banned or “timed-out” for no reason. Some IP bans can be temporary for bad behavior, while others might be permanent.
Obviously, it is never a good idea to get kicked off a game for violating behavior or usage rules. Connecting to the internet via a VPN gives you an IP address that is different than your original one, which means you can bypass any bans or restrictions. You’ll also be able to get connected with fast speeds and browse the web without worry of getting disconnected at inopportune moments. If all this sounds too good to be true, don’t worry! There are plenty of affordable VPNs available on the market today.
Finally, even though many games have ways to detect VPN use, a quality VPN with various country servers can allow the user to hop around to an address where the game site has not been identified as a VPN.
Guaranteed Security
A VPN lets you play games safely on public Wi-Fi. Public Wi-Fi hotspots let you connect to the internet. But public Wi-Fi is not secure and can pose a host of threats, for example:
Unencrypted networks expose the user’s data as it travels between the device and the internet.
Sniffing and Snooping through software and devices and allow cybercriminals to spy on t traffic. This allows hackers to see everything you do online.
Man-in-the-Middle Attacks, the most common public Wi-Fi threat, are where an attacker intercepts data traveling between your computer and the internet.
Malware can be introduced through software vulnerabilities that allow hackers to install a bot, Trojan, or virus on your device.
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks occur when another player forces a gaming website’s shutdown or targets another player’s unprotected computer.
So, most premium VPNs can work on many devices with various security features, such as military-grade encryption technologies. Using a VPN encrypts your data while using public Wi-Fi. Even if a hacker may somehow intercept your data, it will appear as encrypted gibberish to the hacker.
Enhanced Performance
Using a VPN while gaming reduces lag and ping times. Lag is the difference in time between sending a keyboard, mouse, or game controller command and how quickly the game responds.
The main causes of lag are long ping times (the time it takes for data to send and receive between your device and the game server). Using a VPN to connect to a VPN provider’s server can reduce ping times and therefore lag. Essentially it bypasses bandwidth throttling.
Bandwidth throttling causes the slowdown in performance when the internet service provider restricts user bandwidth during peak times to reduce internet congestion or reallocate the bandwidth. (This is a common practice among free VPN providers and another reason to subscribe to a premium VPN service.)
Some providers automatically throttle the bandwidth when they detect gaming, streaming, and file sharing. Others also throttle once they see a specific amount of data transferred. Use a VPN and bypass both those practices.
While the amount of data a game uses varies by game, players who play for more than a few hours a day may find they reach a data cap and a slowdown in performance fairly quickly without the masking provided by a VPN.
Finally, a premium VPN like Surfshark will allow you to connect with a VPN-enabled router. Connecting the VPN to your router enables the VPN to protect every device—including connected game consoles, not normally Wi-Fi capable–connected to Wi-Fi through the router.
Gamers need a VPN to bypass geographical restrictions, better online security, and improve online game playing response and performance.
