Gaming On A PC? Here’s What You Should Look For In A VPN

You undoubtedly know what a virtual private network (VPN) is if you are into computers. A virtual private network (VPN) can let you hide your location and access content that is blocked in your country. While playing Computer games you may not have considered employing a virtual private network.

In other words a good VPN for gaming won’t bog down your computer Internet speed. As a result you can play games that have not been launched in your area yet. While it is true that gaming servers are mostly safe there are instances where your data could be compromised. Keeping your IP address concealed is so crucial. By taking these measures you may protect yourself from cyber attacks and avoid being the subject of malicious actions by your opponents.

Here are some features to look for in a reliable VPN service that you may use while playing games on your personal computer.

Gaming On A PC Unblocking Features

Territory Restrictions

Many games have a drip release, meaning they are rolled out over time to different markets. So a game you want to play might not be available where you live for hours (or months) after another location. Some territory restrictions are put into place to deal with licensing and others are there for more serious reasons.

If you want to have early access to games, you’ll need a VPN with plenty of server locations in different countries. That way you can switch your IP address location to a country where the game is available. 

Government Censorship

Certain governments ban or restrict access to games. Censorship regulations most often apply to political or particularly violent video games, but bans happen for many reasons. Currently, 15 countries have heightened regulations put in place for video games. 

By using a VPN with gaming on a PC, you can access any censored content. Some VPNs have features in place to operate with additional online security in these areas. This includes VPNs that feature NoBorders mode, which automatically finds servers without your county’s Internet restrictions.

Privacy & Security

IP Address Security

Gaming on a PC is inherently competitive and there is always a potential for hackers or opponents to access your personal information if they can locate your IP address. A gaming VPN will block your PC’s current IP address. Instead, gaming on a PC will be assigned the IP address of a secure VPN server.

Some VPNs allow you to go into stealth mode, which hides that you are using a VPN at all. Make sure you use a service that hides your data behind a securely encrypted connection. Also, make sure the gaming VPN provider for your PC utilizes multiple servers that are spread out over different locations. If a multi-hop feature is available, use it. Your connection will route through multiple IP addresses, providing an added layer of security.

Distributed Denial-Of-Service Attacks (DDoS)

Online gamers have dealt with DDoS attacks for years. If you aren’t familiar with DDoS attacks, they involve a player overloading the traffic on a server in order to slow down the connection of an opponent, forcing them to lose or disconnect from the match.

The competitive nature of online gaming on a PC can drive people to malicious tactics, especially in high cash prize tournaments. Though these attacks are illegal under U.S. Federal Law, they are still a threat. By equipping your PC with a gaming VPN, you can eliminate the possibility of a DDoS attack. Counter-Strike Offensive and DOTA 2 are two games where DDoS attacks are common. If you’re a regular player of either of those games, you’ll want to make sure you’re protected.

Logging

An important security measure for any VPN is a no-logging policy. Less reputable VPN providers collect their users’ data and sell it to advertisers. Depending on their location, a VPN company might also be required to hold information for local law enforcement.

You should be particularly careful if you plan on using your VPN in countries that have strong censorship regulations. Luckily, many quality gaming VPNs have zero-logging policies and make a conscious effort not to keep any customer information. A VPN is the best way to protect your data when you are gaming on a PC.

Conclusion

In order to play games that might not be available in your region a virtual private network designed for gamers is a helpful addition to your computer. It prevents hackers and other malicious users from accessing your IP address.

Online Computer gaming is becoming a serious industry and the inherent competitiveness of the genre will likely keep encouraging hacking attempts. Keep yourself safe and your game experience enhanced. See our top-rated list of over 900 VPN services to choose the one that best gaming VPN for your PC.