Should I use a VPN for games?

The personal IP address of your computer is a fingerprint that identifies you on the Internet and affects what you can do and see online. For legal, practical and commercial reasons, website, streaming and gaming services display different content depending on your country of origin.

A website modifying the default language in which its text appears, a site to display warnings or block content, because it must respect specific laws in a given country, linking services connecting you to servers that, in his opinion, will provide the best gaming experience, as well as video-on-demand services offering different licensed content in different geographic regions.

Using simple tools, knowing the IP address makes it easier to determine the ISP and geographic location (including country and city) and tracks the online activities of that person. This information plays an important role in how online advertising systems provide content that they feel will be most relevant to you. From an IP address, it's never too difficult to determine who exactly is the person behind everything online.

For various reasons, some people choose to hide their real IP address when using the Internet and keep their identity hidden. One of the most common technologies is to use a VPN.

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Networking, a technology that allows your computer to connect securely and privately to another computer over the Internet, such as where it was part of a local network, in a bubble where the world outside can not access communications or know where the client machines are located. At least that's how it works in theory.

When you connect to a VPN, your computer establishes all incoming and outgoing Internet connections through a server located in a specific country, owned and maintained by your Virtual Private Network Provider. Every packet that passes between you and the VPN is encrypted, and your online identity seems to be that of your VPN provider, not your real ISP.

When you do something online while connected to a VPN, whether to access websites or play games, your identity appears to use a different IP address from your own ISP. and another DNS service.

However, VPNs have not been invented as a privacy tool. Businesses, utilities and the armed forces use the same technology to enable the remote exchange of critical documents and data over encrypted connections, without fear of a third party being able to access confidential information, which could have catastrophic consequences.

What are the benefits of using a VPN?

VPNs, however, have features that go beyond these three examples, some of which could make a difference in the way you play games and enjoy content on the Internet. Here are some examples:

1) It is not uncommon for raging losers to hunt down opposing players for their IP address and stalking in real life. Although this behavior is completely disturbed and is unlikely to occur, you may feel less bothered by your opponent's insults and threats, knowing that your identity shows that you are connecting to the game from a location. located in the Timbuktu countryside, rather than your real IP address.

2) The use of your computer with a free public wi-fi connection in places such as cafes and transport may not be secure, whether from other users (the type in the corner drinking his latte with a teaspoon could be a sweeping port for each laptop in the room) or the locals may be connecting each connection you make.

3) Workplace network administrators and colleges are working to block Internet access, limiting the ports used for games, limiting certain websites and limiting torrent usage. A VPN can bypass these restrictions.

4) If you are in the EU, because of the RPGD, you are probably used to seeing a website after the other website that repeatedly asks for its consent about cookies and advertising or who discovers that some sites have had to block access from EU countries while complying with legislation … currently a problem with some US media titles. Whether this approach to user data is a good thing or not, this is one more solution to support when browsing the Web. The connection via a VPN hosted in a non-EU country will see these pop-ups disappear.

5) Although the additional layer of a virtual private network (VPN) often results in a slower download speed, you will sometimes find that downloads go faster via a VPN host.

6) Some streaming services offer regional content that, due to various copyright issues, can only be viewed in certain countries. A virtual private network (VPN) is a possible solution, making you appear as coming from a country where additional content is available. The main product here is Netflix, with some TV shows and some movies only available in the US, UK, etc. Unfortunately, Netflix has now become aware of this problem and has prevented many VPNs from viewing video streams.

7) Besides the game, there are many political reasons to use a VPN. Some countries, such as China, block large swathes of websites that, to limit the public's knowledge of the outside world, or critics of the regime, compel their government to decide that its citizens should not see. The use of a VPN can bypass these restrictions and open the full and free web. In times of conflict, oppressive governments impose blockages on most Internet sites, limiting the flow of information into and out of a country. VPNs can be a way to disseminate this information.

How to use a VPN?

In general, VPNs can be configured in three different ways: via the Windows network configuration pages, where you will need to enter your VPN user name and password, then select all the appropriate settings, usually provided by your provider VPN; via software downloaded to your computer, placed in the system tray and, when enabled, allowing only communications via the VPN; or via your router's built-in software (it supports VPNs), which means that every device on your network connects through the VPN.

A wide range of VPN services is available, some of which can be used for free, and some require a subscription. Be particularly wary of free services. A free VPN service always needs a way to finance its existence. Although it hides your computer in a bubble of the outside world, you share this bubble with other users and with the VPN provider itself, which has access to a lot of information about how you actually use the Internet.

Some VPN providers allow you to connect to two servers – one as a point of entry, the other as an exit point – as an additional layer of anonymity . Although the resilience of this extra layer of security has never really been tested, it certainly seems safer than using a single server because it is even more difficult to locate you with your information. Your Internet Service Provider only sees your connection to Server A. The website you are visiting only connects you from Server B. Only the Virtual Private Network Provider (VPN) knows you are connected from A at B.

What does a VPN do for PC games?

Using a VPN means adding another layer between you and the outside world. Unfortunately, this means extra latency. The additional latency depends on the location of the VPN server and the server to which you are trying to connect. If you want to use a VPN, you must think before you start playing.

Using a VPN does not mean that your low ping sniping days are over. Most VPN providers offer a number of different countries to connect. The simple solution is to connect to the server with the shortest ping time. VPN software is often bundled with a ping tool that displays the latency of each server in the list. You can choose a server near you or one with the lowest ping.

Depending on the quality of your VPN provider and the stability of a specific VPN server, you may encounter some additional issues. VPN servers can sometimes crash randomly or simply become unstable. In this case, you will be started outside of your game or have problems with packet loss. It's impossible to know if a Virtual Private Network Provider works well with the game until you sign and try it yourself, which can be a risky gamble if the provider does not offer a trial period. . Even then, some of the servers may be better than others, and it may take some trial and error to find one that is reliable.

The number of factors involved means that word of mouth recommendations for gaming performance may not always work either. A user with a slow broadband connection at 10 Mbits may have had a bad experience with local servers, while a lucky player with a 1 Gb connection may like the service, but does not say much the effectiveness of this service for you.

Do VPNs guarantee confidentiality?

Despite what you can read, there is no sure way to guarantee absolute confidentiality with a VPN. VPN providers can be forced by law from their home country to log the people who connect to them, and give details when boys in blue (or red) come knocking on the door. There are also many flaws in VPN technology that can reveal a user's real identity, such as a "media attack" or a DNS leak. But as usual on the Internet, there are ways to mitigate these risks.

There are anecdotal reports that, in the past, government agencies have burgled VPNs – although the way this has been done is unclear. And like any aspect of computer security, technology is a game of cat and mouse between researchers who want to design better encryption and better security and those who want to break it. There is no way to know if managers working for well-funded organizations have discovered a feat in all VPN protocols or they can break through the encryption that allows them to bypass existing security methods.

But you can now remove the hat made of aluminum foil. It is unlikely (likely) that any of these agencies will waste time locating students playing Fortnite on their university network or those wishing to watch a new episode of Game of Thrones a few days in advance.