Today, online scams seem to be everywhere. And since gamers spend lots of their time online, they have to make sure their connection is both fast and secure.
But achieving this isn’t easy. VPNs are becoming the standard when it comes to security and privacy on the web. But a VPN can also slow down your network a bit, thanks to what it does to protect you online.
So, let’s see what you can do to enhance your network’s speed while using a VPN without sacrificing safety.
Why Should You Use a VPN as a Gamer?
As a gamer, you are a target of a lot of scammers out there. They will try to get to your credentials through all sorts of channels. However, if you keep your web traffic encrypted, people who want to spy on you simply won’t be able to do so because your information will be scrambled.
Another great use for a VPN is safety on the go. If you find yourself gaming out in public a lot, a VPN will save you from all the issues that come from public WiFi.
Lastly, it’s not all about gaming. Through a VPN, you can access geo-blocked content, like streaming services and all sorts of e-commerce shops.
How Does a VPN Work?
Without getting too technical, we can safely say that the power of every virtual private network lies in encryption. Here’s how it works:
- You turn on the VPN and connect to a server.
- Now, the data between your computer and the selected server becomes encrypted.
- Once your data reaches the server, it’s sent to its destination. The destination server cannot identify your device as the sender. All it sees is the information of the VPN server.
A VPN will hide your IP and show an alternative one to whoever you connect with online. This is also how you can bypass location-restricted content.
The downside here is – a VPN can slow down your connection, especially if you connect to a server far away. Let’s say that you want to connect to a service in your country, but you want to hide your digital trail. You can select a server from Germany and start the connection. It may take quite a bit of time for your data to travel to Germany’s VPN server and back.
While these speed bumps don’t affect performance too much, you can still speed up your internet. After all, gamers want to get every drop of performance from their gear to get the necessary edge, especially in esports.
Things You Can Do to Speed Up Your Internet While Gaming
Let’s see what you can do to make your online gaming experience as fast and smooth as possible.
- Get a cabled connection – gaming over WiFi is never ideal. A cable is miles ahead of WiFi when it comes to stability.
- Avoid shady VPN clients – if a VPN uses cheap or weak server gear, you are bound to have connection drops. If you want to make the most out of your secure connection, choose your VPN carefully and look for one that’s known to have high speeds.
- Set up your router properly – oftentimes, manufacturers just leave the routers on the bare minimum required to get a connection. Take a few moments to set up your router for maximum speed.
- Utilize the power of VPN split tunneling – split tunneling lets you control which parts get encrypted. This system puts less pressure on your network, resulting in better speeds.
A Little Bit of Speed For a Lot of Security!
Virtual private networks are becoming mainstream, and they’re getting a lot more suitable for gamers too. Your online activity should be yours to control entirely, without anyone meddling or listening in.
So, before you even start your gaming session, make sure you are secure. After that, there are a bunch of things you can do right away to speed up your internet connection.