Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are becoming increasingly important in the era of remote work. Many companies want to connect their employees over a secure network. But what role do VPNs play in gaming? It is precisely here that there are especially significant advantages that most players will still have to do without. We list the main reasons why a VPN makes sense when you play!
What is a VPN?
A VPN is a secure network connection within public networks. VPN users travel on the Internet to a certain extent within the protected areas. Two aspects in particular contribute to this.
First: A VPN encrypts all your data traffic. Third parties cannot understand the users’ movements. What pages are visited, what is entered in the forms: all this remains within privacy. A VPN also protects privacy in public networks, which are usually unprotected or inadequately protected.
Secondly: A VPN protects users from unwanted disclosure of their identity. The identity of Internet users is usually reported using an IP. However, this is not possible with VPN users, because they use a remote server as an intermediary for the route to the Internet. Only the server’s IP address can be seen by third parties. And not even your ISP can see more.
Protection can be installed on all peripheral devices. In order not to be there VPN for PC As well as for smartphones and tablets.
VPN Gaming Feature #1: More Security in Multiplayer
Players, like all Internet users, are exposed to certain risks. This is especially true for multiplayer gaming platforms. Sometimes there are serious discussions with other players here. If they know the IP address, then in principle they can hack user accounts, for example on social networks.
A very unpleasant consequence of these possibilities is the so-called multiplication. Hackers spread sensational messages on behalf of their ignorant victims, often leading to police operations. In the worst case, the game’s supposed friends are able to find out where they are and carry out offline attacks. The VPN promises more security here because your whereabouts are hidden and potential hackers can’t get hold of your IP address.
Hiding your IP address protects against another risk on gaming platforms: DDoS attacks. They are now also used against individual users – for example to knock successful competitors out of the game. Here, too, a VPN offers reliable protection.
VPN Gaming Feature #2: You can also play safely in public networks
More and more games are also being played on smartphones – preferably on the go. Players like to use the public networks that are available in hotels, cafes, or local public transportation, for example. However, if you work without a VPN here, you are exposing yourself to huge risks.
Unencrypted networks virtually invite hackers and allow them to read the entire traffic. As a result, social media accounts can be misused, as well as bank accounts and credit cards. Hackers use different methods like man in the middle attack or malware.
VPN Gaming Feature #3: Access to Additional Content
As VPN users browse the internet through a remote server, their IP address and location (i.e. the country they are in) become unknown. From the point of view of the site operator, gaming platform, etc., VPN users come from the country in which the server used is located. Most VPN service providers operate servers all over the world – and allow their customers to choose the respective access server. From the point of view of gaming platforms, whoever chooses a US server is also in the US.
This has tangible advantages: it is possible to access content that is only available in certain countries. This content may be prohibited in your country for political or legal reasons (eg in connection with copyright law). Often there are brand new games first in the US and only after some delay in other countries. Anyone who visits the platform with a VPN can access the new releases on the first day.
VPN Gaming Feature #4: Old prejudices are no longer true
There are some rumors and biases circulating about VPNs that allegedly reduce the usefulness of the services. As a rule, these prejudices are no longer valid. this is It applies to IP locks, for example. Some gaming platforms see the use of remote servers as a violation of their terms of use and ban players. However, this is usually not a problem because the next time you log into the VPN, a new IP address is assigned and can be used to bypass the IP lock. This is especially true of high-quality VPN services that operate a large number of servers.
Another misconception is that a VPN can slow down internet usage. However, the opposite is true, especially with gaming platforms. Here it often depends on the ping times. These, in turn, also depend on the spatial distance between the user and the game server. If you use a VPN server near the game server, you can even reduce ping times and delays.
