Online gaming has become one of the most popular leisure activities in the world. From the golden age of couch co-op games like Streets of Rage to the online battles of Call of Duty, we’ve even had our own league created with eSports continuing its rise in popularity. But as we spend more and more time online, whether it’s in our personal time or gaming, there’s always one thing we need to be aware of. And that’s security.
Did You Know You Get VPNs for Consoles?
It’s true. The majority of people who are aware of VPNs think they only apply to your gaming desktop computer. But that’s not the case. In fact, they can be used on various devices, including consoles and routers, to give you the online security you need. This is especially good when playing online, but why should you get a VPN for when you’re gaming? We’ll give you three good reasons why.
#1 The Best in Protection
At the top of the list is security. It’s imperative to most things in our everyday life, from burglar alarms to car alarms to common sense about our own protection. Sometimes though, that can go all out of the window when you’re online. It’s easy to understand why too – people spend most of their lives online, whether it’s working, communicating with friends and family, or gaming with fellow players across the world – it all takes place online, and we’re just used to it now. So, you can see why it’s essential to make sure you’re as safe as possible when you’re gaming.
Without the proper protection in place, you could leave yourself vulnerable to DDoS attacks, which can have a detrimental effect, especially if hackers got hold of your details. Imagine what’s stored on your console when you play? Your name, address, bank details for making purchases. How about browser history or streaming apps? When you start playing and reveal your IP address to the world, there’s always the potential for digital hackers to strike.
But not with a VPN. A VPN will disguise your IP address. As soon as you turn your console on and connect to the web, it could be from anywhere if anyone was to look at your IP address. VPNs work by pinging it across a different server in a foreign country, so you’ll immediately benefit from being hidden from any cybercriminals. If you’re looking to get hold of one of the best console VPN for gaming solutions, then look for one with a kill switch. Effectively, if the VPN server goes down, it ‘kills’ your internet connection to never expose your IP address. Just load it up again and get back to secure gaming.
#2 More Streaming Content
Consoles and computers aren’t just designed for games anymore. They’re practically home entertainment systems, and no doubt, you use yours for streaming your favorite films or TV shows from popular apps like Netflix or Amazon Prime. If so, you’ve probably also noticed that certain shows are restricted purely because of your location. Not being able to watch the next big thing on Netflix, despite it being advertised across the globe, can be infuriating. However, with a VPN, you can change your IP location, so you won’t be restricted by your geography. Which means you can watch whatever you want via your console. This is also good if you’re streaming or sharing your in-game videos, giving you more access to other videos, as well as the ability to share your own to a broader player base.
#3 Say Goodbye to Lag
A slowdown in speed and lag when you’re gaming is never good. Imagine if you’re going in for the finishing move on Call of Duty or playing FIFA Football, and you’re just about to score, but a glitch in your broadband prevents you from succeeding? Nobody wants that. The majority of the time, it’s because your internet service provider (ISP) throttles the amount of speed it gives its users. Especially in peak times. Again, this can be infuriating if you’ve just come home, and the only time you have to game is when everyone else in the world is. With a VPN installed, you can hide all your data traffic, so your ISP won’t be able to restrict the speed they’re giving you. So, you can arm yourself and prepare for that perfect finish or get the ball in the back of the net, knowing that you can enjoy gaming at the regular bandwidth speeds you’re used to.