Is a Virtual Private Network Right for Gaming?

VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network”, and such online options are definitely worth considering for certain gamers. It will depend on how you game, the games you play, where you’re playing them, the speed of the hardware you’re using, and numerous similar factors.

Here we’ll briefly explore a few key things you want to consider if attaining a VPN is something you’ve been thinking about.

1. Protection From DDoS Threats
   DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service. Usually, the way it works is like this: a virus hides in the code of a third-party app that becomes wildly popular—think “knock-off Tinder”, or something like that. When the time is right, and millions have downloaded the app in a given region, the virus is activated, and it uses individual devices to bombard a server, crashing it.

This happens a lot in gaming; especially when certain individuals with maturity issues find themselves losing a game. They’ll try and bombard a server that hosts the game. Also, players can be kicked off if they’re in a geolocated area that’s central to a DDoS attack. When your web connectivity is routed through another server, this problem is eliminated.

2. VPNs Don’t Increase Connection Speed
   Because VPN connectivity is routed through a VPN server, there’s an additional “middle man” between you and the online games you’re looking to play. This means the time it takes for you to connect to a gaming server, through your VPN, will be slightly longer. But it won’t be significantly slower, and some VPN options are certainly faster than others.
3. Being Able to Play Games Unavailable in Your Region
   If you like games that are restricted in your home region, a good solution can be a VPN for gaming. Essentially, the way many barriers are erected between regions is rooted in the localized access information defining a given server. So if you use a VPN, and the server for that VPN is located in another country, suddenly you’re not geo-locked anymore.

4. VPNs Help You Avoid Being Doxxed or Swatted
   Being “doxxed” is similar to being “swatted”, in that private details of your personal information are leaked in both scenarios. The big difference is the outcome of the act. If you’re “doxxed”, some troll in a game or online releases your personal information so other, more criminal trolls may come to your physical address and harass you.

If you’re swatted, some stinker calls in an anonymous tip to local law enforcement of such intensity that they are compelled to send a SWAT team to your house. This is criminal harassment, and those who decide it’s okay should be held to account legally. But good luck catching them.

A lot of hackers that will get you swatted or doxxed do so by identifying your IP and geo-locating you. With a VPN, your IP is generated by the service and rooted to the remote server through which you’re routing internet connection. Accordingly, there’s nobody to swat, or to dox. Especially if you’re gaming with some weasels who might try this, a VPN is wise.

A Worthwhile Way to Game

On the plus side, using a VPN to the game will help protect you from DDoS threats, you’ll be able to play games that aren’t available in your geographic region—something especially worth thinking about if you love foreign games—and VPNs reduce instances of being Doxed or Swatted.

On the negative side, VPNsmight slightly reduce the speed of the internet you’re using to game, and using a VPN won’t increase your connection speed. So at the end of the day, unless you need a perpetually swift connection that’s leagues above other peers in your gaming group, VPNs represent a good choice for gaming.