With fantastic TV crossovers like The Last Of Us, the Super Mario Bros movie, and massive open-world titles like Starfield on the horizon, being a gamer today is awesome. But, like most pleasures, when it comes to gaming online there are risks.
If you haven’t already, there will come a time when you begin to consider how to protect yourself against cyberattacks, swatting, or just want to game anonymously for a variety of reasons.
Glancing at our quickfire list of how a VPN can solve all these problems will help you decide if this handy tool is what you need to avoid malware and play it safe.
What is a VPN?
VPN stands for a virtual private network. It’s a tool that connects your computer to another on the internet and access websites, even if they are not available in your own country.
Why use a VPN for gaming?
Using a VPN while gaming has multiple benefits, including protecting against many forms of cybercrime. Some of these advantages include:
Protection from cyberattacks
If you use a VPN while gaming, it can help protect you from DDoS attacks, which occur when other players attempt to block you from playing a game by targeting your IP address. Without your IP address, competitors won’t be able to launch a successful attack.
Accessing geo-restricted games
If you use a VPN for gaming, you can play games and unblock any website not available in your area. You can select a server that allows you to play the games you want. Also, some games are released in certain regions before others, and you can use a VPN to access those games earlier.
Reduce risks of swatting
Swatting is a dangerous situation that occurs when someone manipulates your IP address and other details to locate your physical address and then falsely alerts the SWAT team to your location for an emergency.
This scenario can result in harm to innocent players because the SWAT team arrives expecting a real emergency. Although using a VPN doesn’t completely shield you from swatting since attackers don’t only rely on IP addresses, it can lessen the risk.
Gaming on a public Wi-Fi
To safely play games online using a public Wi-Fi network, you can use a VPN. By doing this, you ensure that your computer’s information is protected from potential attackers or any malware and spyware threats that may arise from others using the same public Wi-Fi network as you.
Avoid IP bans by making your IP address invisible
If a player violates game rules or behaves poorly, the game may ban their IP address. To bypass an IP ban, players can use a VPN, which will make them appear as if they are playing from a different IP address. However, it’s important to note that using a VPN to bypass IP bans is often against the terms of service for online games.
Game anonymously
Using a VPN is a good option if you want to keep your online gaming activities private and anonymous. By using a VPN, you can ensure that your identity and data are entirely hidden, allowing you to play without fear of being discovered or tracked by others.
Conclusion
So there you have it: the slew of convincing reasons for downloading a VPN for gaming, from protecting yourself from swatting to avoiding bans and playing anonymously. Follow these tips and remember: It’s dangerous to go alone, take this VPN!
