Top Shocking Reasons Why Gamers Use Gaming Proxies | Blog
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What are Gaming Proxies?
Few simple terms you might come across while using proxies.
Passionate gamers need a lot of things to enhance their gaming experience and excel in the gaming world. They require the best laptops or PCs which have the latest processors and contain high-speed RAM of 16-128GB for fast performance, and also the best Graphics cards for a breathtaking visual experience. Not only do they need a high-speed internet connection but also they need the best proxy for gaming because games need fast and smooth connections in order to stop the problem of lagging during multiplayer game-play sessions.
Video games are made for entertainment following the basic thumb rule of engaging bots in the electronic interface. Games are divided into different types such as– action, role-play, sports, strategy, simulations, adventure etc. Latest games employ hi-tech Dolby Digital Surround Sound along with modern WAX effects and best visual effects with the help of powerful Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and carefully crafted game engine technologies.
Computer-based video games or mobile video games establish virtual environments and actions which are controlled by players. Prior to the online gaming platform, games running on computers or TVs or Xboxes used to be recorded into CPU memory only. Players used to interact through keyboard, mouse, joystick and other sensing devices and used to play against CPU bots. However, recent age of playing games over Local Area Network or on internet against players worldwide, the technological demand has a new list as well. Gaming proxy is one of them.
A proxy is anything that represents itself as an iteration of the original product/person while replacing the original. For example, when actors are absent due to illness or any other problem then proxy artists are used to replace them. Similarly, a web proxy server is a server which actually acts as a link between your PC and the network you want to use. Web proxy server is a false server that let an user to access restricted web contents under his domain area. In this same regard, Gaming proxies hide online user’s real virtual identity. In short, it helps in the exchange of data while keeping the anonymity of the user intact.
Different web browsers have different steps to configure a web proxy server.
Since different web browsers are based on different coding architectures used by different organisations, it is pretty obvious that the method of using proxies on those browsers vary drastically from one to another. Web Browser proxies are important as they will let an user access gaming websites restricted in their country.
Here are the step-by-step procedures to set up proxies on different web browsers-
Internet Explorer users:- Being the oldest web browser of Windows, Internet Explorer is still the default browser due to its simple interface and easy integration with Windows. Here are the steps to activate gaming proxies on Internet Explorer-
1. In the internet explorer, click on the “Tools” menu.
2. Select the “Internet Options” menu and go to the “Connection” tab.
3. Under the “Connection” tab, select the “LAN settings” menu.
4. Within “LAN settings” menu, click on the “Proxy server option”. It enables to use a proxy server for the LAN check box.
5. Type the “IP address” of the “HTTP proxy server” in the “Address box”.
6. A “Port box” appears. Enter the port number used by the web proxy server which is “8080” by default.
7. To speed up the network performance select the option “Bypass the proxy server for a local network“. It completely restricts the use of web proxy server when connected to any local network address.
8. Select the OK option to save the settings and close the LAN Settings box.
9. Again click on OK option to close the Internet Options dialog box.
10. You are on board with a web proxy server successfully and you can access any blocked site in your search engine.
Microsoft Edge users– if Internet Explorer is the founding father of web browsers then Microsoft Edge is its grandson. This is a streamlined and smooth version of Internet Explorer that is available on the current versions of Windows as a pre-built package. The steps of adding a gaming proxy server on Microsoft Edge is given below-
1. In the Microsoft, Edge Window select the “More” menu.
2. Next, click on “Settings option” from the drop-down menu.
3. Navigate for ‘View Advanced Settings’ and select the option.
4. You will find 2 options in a new window – Automatic Proxy and Manual Proxy setup options.
5. The proxy network details provided by the company needs to be entered in this page.
Mozilla Firefox users– The first third-party browser on this list, Mozilla has been trying to grab market share out of Chrome’s hands for a long time. This browser is well known for the plethora of options and features that are available and the simple, easy-to-use user interface that it offers. To add a gaming proxy server in Firefox just follow these steps-
1. At first, Select Tools Menu in the Firefox web browser and go to the “options menu”.
2. There the Advanced Icon will have to be selected.
3. From the advanced icon, select the Network tab and click on “connection tab”.
4. From connection, go to Settings option.
5. Under the settings option, choose any one out of these two options; “Manual Proxy Configuration” or “Auto-Detect Proxy setting for this network“.
6. In “Auto-Detect Proxy setting for this network” the IP address for the HTTP proxy server will be selected automatically and entered also. But in case of “Manual Proxy Configuration” the IP address for the HTTP proxy server and enter the port details will be entered manually.
7. Click “Ok” to finish the process and to access the blocked website.
Chrome users– Chrome is widely used as compared to Internet Explorer and Mozila Firefox. It is popular for its unique extensions and the procedure to add a gaming proxy server is also easy-
1. Click on the three-parallel-bar “Options” key on the toolbar.
2. Now select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
3. Scroll down through the list and click on the “Show advanced settings” option.
4. Now find the “Network settings” area and open the “Change proxy settings” option.
5. On the pop-up window find the “LAN settings” option and open it.
6. Now select the option that says “Use a proxy server for your LAN” after disabling the option that says “Automatically detect settings”
7. Now enter the settings of proxy service provider and click on the “OK” button. This will save the proxy settings on the Chrome web browser.
To be a little more advanced than your peers you need to know a few simple terms you might come across while using proxies.
1. SOCKS – SOCKS is an abbreviation for Socket Secure. It is a protocol on the internet that is required to initiate the connection with the web proxy server. Through the proxy network, the SOCKS protocol exchanges network packets between customers and the main server through a proxy server. SOCKS make the path to forward User Datagram Protocol [UDP] packets and proxies arbitrary IP address of Transmission Control Protocol [TCP] connections. SOCKS5 is a type of SOCKS protocol which is widely used throughout the world since it provides an additional layer of protection. SOCKS5 protocol adds an authentication process while accessing the server, so only authorised clients can access the server and its data.
2. HTTP – to send correct HTTP requests to correct servers the HTTP protocol is very necessary. In the World Wide Web (www), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the foundation for data communication. HTTP protocol makes the path for unhindered communication between the user and a proxy server and sends exact requests to the required destination. HTTP protocol is analogous to a sorting mechanism which understands the request made by the user and guides the connection towards the website/server requested.
3. P2P – P2P or peer to peer connections are required for fast torrent downloads or other shared contents. The proxy server providers have such facilities too; make sure to opt for them. P2P connections are usually much simpler and easier ways of transferring files and other data between two computers/users.
4. Gaming Clients – Gaming clients are software programs that connect a user to a game server. They provide packets of network information to clients and ensure dedicated network. Most of the customers available online are a mixture of client-server and P2P setup. Now avail the lime proxy by getting ccj loans direct lender
On purchasing a proxy server for free gaming proxies, a set of detailed instructions are provided on how to configure the proxy server and have a completely encrypted process. It is of utmost importance that to set up the proxy server properly, otherwise, data leak or even undesired access to the system might happen. So, read all the instructions carefully and even contact the customer care of your proxy service provider in case of any confusion.
Why would a gamer want to use gaming proxies?
Gaming is just more than entertainment and stress elevator; it is a profession for many. Professional gamers earn their living from it. This is why a smooth and fast connection is a necessity for them. The biggest frustration for any zealous gamer is lagging internet connection while he is playing. While participating in international competitions if the internet lags then the gamer might get disconnected from the server or even in extreme cases, he/she might end up losing the match. So during matches or practice sessions high speed and smooth net connection becomes necessary.
Also, gamers want to change their location to gain expertise on worldwide basis. However, it is not easily doable as IP restrictions come into the picture. An easy way out is gaming proxies.
Though the market is filled with free proxy service providers, it is recommended to use paid gaming proxies to witness better results.
Unpaid proxy servers may have an adverse effect. Because of free proxy servers, the information is not that much guaranteed to be protected against online hackers. On the other hand, paid ones come with high data security assurance. They give access to worldwide locations to play, offer large bandwidth and fast speed internet connection coupled with live support on 24*7 basis. Paid gaming proxy subscriptions start from a low range of $5 to $10.
Different types of proxies
Gaming proxies can be broadly classified into two types. There are many other classifications based on other parameters, but the two main types are:
1. Premium Proxies– Pro gamers ready to spend for high secrecy and complete security go for this type of proxies. These are user-friendly and advanced proxies that successfully hide IP address, and offer impeccable speed up to 1Gbps.
2. Public Proxies– These are unreliable free proxies. A huge number of gamers prefer these. Due to a swarm of users, it is natural to face a speed lag. Plus, the security and anonymity of the users can never be ensured on these free gaming proxies.
The Top advantages of using gaming proxies
Here are top advantages of using gaming proxies.
1. Data Caching– The cache system of proxy servers is very useful to access any website as the data is stored in the cache system safely. Thus, they become accessible at anytime. In this way, it provides a safe storage space for browsing data and enables them to access at any point of time. Also, the data remain out of reach to outsiders.
2. Peer to Peer sharing– P2P or Peer to Peer sharing is a service that fastens the data sharing rate with peers. It erases the necessity of having a server and act as a mediator between two users.
3. Exchanging data– The use of P2P protocol in a proxy server helps setting up folders on system that can be browsed by users given access to the network. This lets users on a certain network exchange data between themselves without any hassle. Say, a user ‘A’ wants to take the “saved-game” files of a certain game from another user ‘B’; then A just have to copy that file into the shared folder and B can easily copy it onto his computer.
4. Anonymity– With the increasing number of identity thefts on the internet, securing personal information has become an integral part of anyone’s internet browsing experience. Since gaming proxies act like gatekeepers between the user and the internet directly, no one can get access to the user’s information. Proxies should be used while gaming so that no one can track IP address thereby causing security breach. Hackers can easily track through a user’s IP addresses to know his real-life identity like their names, phone number, bank account details etc.
5. Protecting your Location details– Using a proxy server enables the user to select a different country/state as your location. This keeps the actual location hidden from different servers and websites, and even if there is a breach of security, the hacker won’t get access to user’s location details. There have been many cases where people have pranked others by tracing their IP addresses back to their houses and then sending junk mail or even sending the Police to their houses as a joke. These types of jokes might end up having serious consequences, and in some cases, the location details might actually fall into the wrong hands, and they may try to blackmail against money. Also, some free proxies fail to protect information and that’s why it is always recommended to use
6. Protection from DDoS attacks– DDoS stands for Distributed Denial of Service. It is a brute force attack that is carried out by hackers on different websites/servers to cripple their functionality. During this attack, a huge amount of traffic is passed through a website and that overwhelms the website’s servers. This inevitably ends up crashing the website and thus hugely affecting the business of that organisation. DDoS attacks are carried out by using botnets. A botnet is a huge armada of infected computers that act as users during the attack. Attackers infect a huge array of computers by sending malicious software through websites, social media, and emails. These software act in the background without even letting the users know about their existence. To protect from DDoS attacks, one should use a proxy server, as the DDoS would attack the proxy IP since that is how the internet perceives user’s existence, and his actual IP would be safe.
7. Access to location-locked websites/services– By using a proxy one can set his own location as any country or state in the world. This means that any website that a user can access will see that your IP address is originating from that country, so it will give you access to the services that are only available in that country. A very simple example would be Netflix; just a few years ago Netflix was unavailable in India, but by using proxy servers it was pretty easy to access the Netflix website and use their services. Same is valid for the gaming industry. Many games get banned in many countries due to many different reasons. So the only way to play those games online is to use a proxy server and alter your location.
8. Play with your teammates– with the advent of social media and the internet, distance has become just a number and worldwide gamers making friends all over the world. But still, gaming servers are almost always divided into different zones to cater to the people who live in those areas. So, in order to be able to play with outside country friends, one needs to use the location-altering feature of a proxy. This will let the user play on the same server of their friends. This is especially important for professional gamers.
9. Great Server Uptime– Server uptime can be defined as the percentage of total usage time during which the server was up and working flawlessly. Good gaming proxies have reputations to uphold and they boast server uptimes of around 99. 992% to 99. 998%. That means a user won’t have to miss the gaming sessions due to proxy-server problems. When local gaming server might be down one can easily select a different location using proxy server to continue gaming session on a different server.
10. Lag-free and smooth connections– the primary requirement of a gamer is a lag-free internet connection. By using a good proxy server one can easily achieve this. Since most online games are nowadays divided into different servers based on the different counties/regions, the game play might be getting hindered due to the bad performance of the server that one is connected to. In that case, a user can easily select a different gaming server by changing his location. Also, a proxy server acts as a link between user’s ISP and the gaming server, and it ensures that there are no flaws in the network during your gaming sessions.
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Conclusion
As it is very apparent from this article, using a proxy is very important for security and privacy related concerns. Also, proxy servers help in accessing banned websites and services online. Using a well reputed proxy server is of utmost importance as the speed and network stability hugely depends on it. This is why Lime Proxy is one of the most recommended proxy servers. They have an industry leading 99. 9% uptime guarantee and they offer a trial period for users to check whether the services fulfil their needs or not. Lime Proxy also comes with different subscription plans based on the usage requirements and the working environment.
Best VPNs for playing and hosting online games – Comparitech
We take a look at the best VPNs for gaming including the factors you should consider when choosing a VPN service suitable for both playing and hosting online games.
@pabischoff UPDATED: May 17, 2021
Want a good online gaming VPN to play Dota 2, League of Legends, Starcraft 2, World of Warcraft, Counter Strike, Fortnite, Minecraft, Overwatch, PUBG or any other online game?
We’ll cover several gaming VPNs for PC, console, Android, and iOS. If you don’t want to read the whole article, here’s a summary of recommended VPNs for gaming:
Best VPNs for gaming:
NordVPN: Best gaming VPN. Extremely fast, servers in 60+ countries, and strong security. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Surfshark: Best budget alternative. Solid choice for gaming. Reliable servers, great multi-platform support, and a wide range of privacy features.
ExpressVPN: Operates servers in 94 countries. Fast connections and works with a wide range of devices.
IPVanish: Fast servers in more than 60 countries. Tier 1 network.
CyberGhost: Great value VPN. Solid provider with plenty of useful features for gaming online.
VyprVPN: Tier 1 Network provider with servers in 60+ countries.
We cover more details on each of these VPNs below. Our rigorous testing and analysis process helps us to only recommend the VPNs which can provide the best service. We reveal exactly which features helped each of these 6 VPNs rank top for gaming but if you’d like to know more about the decision process skip ahead to our methodology section.
WANT TO TRY THE TOP VPN RISK FREE? NordVPN is offering a fully-featured risk-free 30-day trial if you sign up at this page. You can use the VPN rated #1 for gaming with no restrictions for a month—great if you are going on a short trip.
There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.
Why use a VPN for online gaming?
Online gamers want the fastest connection to a game server they can get, so it might seem counter-intuitive at first to use a VPN. Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN service encrypts a device’s internet connection and routes it through an intermediary server in a location of the user’s choosing.
The encryption and re-routing process usually tends to slow down connections and increase lag. Dig a bit deeper, however, and gamers can find several ways to utilize VPNs.
Why you should use a VPN for gaming:
Access geo-locked games inaccessible from your country of residence. Is your favorite game limited to South Korea or Japan? No problem! Just connect to a VPN server in those countries and brush up on your language skills.
Bypass IP bans. Did you get unjustly IP banned from a game that you love? A VPN will change your IP address so you can get back in the action.
Access to Steam and other marketplaces when traveling abroad. Steam and other online game stores may not accept payment if your IP address does not match up with the country in your profile. A VPN can help you get around this.
Protection from DDoS attacks. If you’re a competitive gamer and the other team is using dirty tactics to target your IP address with a denial-of-service attack, many VPNs have built-in protections against that.
Protection from hackers and snoops. Leaving your connection open to a game for long periods of time can be a security risk. The encryption and IP masking a VPN offers will help keep you safe.
Play games not yet released in your country. If you live in Europe and want to get your hands on a game only available in the US, a VPN can help you get earlier access. Just make sure you’re not breaking any terms of service.
Access to other regions’ game servers. If you have a friend in another country you want to play with but the game’s servers are split up by region, a VPN can let you play together.
Unblock Discord. Discord is blocked in some countries and certain environments. All of the VPNs we recommend support split tunneling, which allows users to choose which apps use the VPN and which don’t. You can unblock Discord with a VPN while at the same time using a direct connection for games.
Access to game streaming services. Game streaming services like Google Stadia and XCloud are only available in certain countries. You can unblock them with a VPN.
Some online gaming VPNs claim they can even lower ping time and lag. We recommend you take that claim with a big grain of salt. In some cases, a VPN will give you access to a game server that’s performing better or even find a faster route between you and the game server, but in the vast majority of cases, the encryption process and re-routing through an extra server will increase ping time.
See also: Fastest VPNs
Best VPNs for online gaming
All of the VPNs we recommend meet certain criteria for gaming online. They also meet our speed, privacy, and security standards:
Number and location of servers. A lot of servers to choose from around the world will give you access to more games and less latency.
NAT firewalls and anti-DDoS protection. These will help protect you from hackers and denial-of-service attacks.
Speed and reliability. Good old bandwidth and a stable connection will go a long way in keeping you in the game and playing competitively.
Dedicated gaming servers. Some VPNs have servers optimized specifically for gamers.
Tier 1 Network. A Tier 1 network means the VPN provider connects its servers to the fastest possible network available. It does not settle for a downstream ISP that buys its bandwidth from a bigger company and then resells it. Essentially, a VPN that uses only Tier 1 networks is directly hooked into the backbone of the internet.
Split tunneling. A feature that allows you to choose which apps use the VPN and which use a direct connection. For example, if Discord is blocked in your country, you can set Discord to use the VPN and use a direct connection for games.
1. NordVPN
Oct 2021
Apps Available:
PC
Mac
IOS
Android
Linux
NordVPN is our first choice for a gaming VPN. It boasts more than 5, 000 servers in 60 countries. A handful of those come with built-in anti-DDoS protection for super stable connections. NordVPN is extremely fast. In fact, it beat out all competitors in our latest round of testing.
Next to each server listed in the app is the server load and the number of miles between yourself and the server, which should give you some indication of ping time. You can “favorite” a server to find it quickly later on. NordVPN supports split tunneling on Chrome and Firefox browser extensions and on mobile apps.
Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. If you want to connect a game console, NordVPN’s website includes dozens of tutorials on setting up the VPN on several types of wifi router.
Pros:
Superfast, low-latency servers
Operates a network of more than 5, 000 servers in 63 countries
Server loads and distances are indicated for ping time estimation
You can save favorite servers when you find a reliable one
Offers router installation tutorials for PS and Xbox users
Customer service available via 24/7 live chat
Cons:
Can choose server locations but not able to choose specific servers
BEST VPN FOR GAMERS:NordVPN is our #1 choice. With a vast range of servers dotted around the globe, including dedicated gaming servers, Nord VPN sets the standard for gamers. Also hard to beat on Privacy and security features. Allows up to 6 devices to be used simultaneously from one account. Includes a 30-day money back guarantee so you can try them risk-free.
Read our full review of NordVPN.
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2. Surfshark
Surfshark is a low-cost provider that operates 1, 700 servers in 63 countries, which means you’re effectively guaranteed a low-latency connection wherever you are in the world. It also allows you to automatically connect to the fastest available server, and to see each server’s current load at-a-glance. With decent speeds, no connection limit, and plenty of security features (including 256-bit encryption and a no-logs policy), this VPN is well worth your time.
A split tunneling feature called Whitelister is built into the Windows and Android apps.
Surfshark comes with apps for MacOS, iOS, Linux, Android, and Windows. Looking to use a VPN on your games console? Surfshark’s website even offers step-by-step guides to installing its software on your home router.
High enough speeds for lag-free gaming
Large network of low-latency servers
Strong on security and privacy
Accepts Bitcoin
Some servers are much faster than others
BEST BUDGET PICK:Surfshark lets you connect as many devices as you like, which means you can game, browse, or stream safe in the knowledge that no one is watching. This security-conscious VPN keeps no logs and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full review of Surfshark here.
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3. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN operates over 3, 000 servers in 94 countries around the world. Its desktop app comes with a built-in speed tester so you can quickly deduce which servers have the lowest ping time in milliseconds. The VPN consistently scores well in our speed tests, offering more than enough bandwidth to keep up with opponents online. Split tunneling is available on Windows, Mac, Android, and ExpressVPN’s router firmware.
If you’re a console gamer using a PlayStation or Xbox that doesn’t support VPN apps, ExpressVPN sells pre-configured routers and makes free router firmware for certain models that will let you route all the traffic connected to them through the VPN. This is far more user-friendly than trying to flash an open-source firmware like DD-WRT or Tomato onto your router and manually configuring a VPN, which is also a pain whenever you need to switch servers.
ExpressVPN apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and certain wifi routers.
Built-in speed tester for lowest ping time determination
Fast, low-latency servers are great for gaming
PS and Xbox users can install software on certain routers or get pre-configured ones
Live customer support around the clock
Not the cheapest provider here
Limited advanced features in apps for power-users
TICKS ALL THE BOXES:ExpressVPN holds its own. A fast and reliable choice for gaming. Great privacy features and keeps no logs. Pricier than others on this list. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full review of ExpressVPN.
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4. IPVanish
IPVanish runs over 1, 200 servers in over 60 countries and exclusively uses Tier 1 networks. It’s one of the very few providers that actually owns its servers rather than renting them. That means if your priority is to play on a VPN without lag, IPVanish is an excellent choice. The app allows you to see the current load and ping time of each server and even filter by ping time, protocol, and country. The service includes a NAT firewall.
I read some earlier articles saying IPVanish has gaming-optimized servers. That might have been true at one time, but I can’t find any reference to that in the current version of the desktop app. The Android app supports split tunneling.
Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. IPVanish can also be configured on wifi routers, which will cover your game console.
Owns and operates all the servers on their network, providing good speeds
Can filter, rank, and chose servers according to their protocol type, ping time, and by country
Apps automatically connect to low latency servers
Impressive speeds and reliable connections
Look elsewhere if you need to use apps in China
GREAT GAMING VPN:IPVanish has a large network of servers which makes it solid for gaming. An uncongested network that achieves that good speeds. Strong security and privacy features. Could do with having live customer support. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full review of IPVanish.
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5. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is an easy-to-use VPN that comes packed with all sorts of features that can help you tailor the service to your gaming needs. All of the servers available on CyberGhost tier are DDoS-protected, and a NAT firewall comes built-in. Our speed tests show CyberGhost is among the fastest VPNs out there. It’s reliable, too, offering stable connections to 5, 000+ servers in 89 countries. You can toggle on or off useful settings like extra speed and data compression. A NAT firewall is built into the service. 256-bit encryption and a no-logs policy ensure your data is secure.
Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. Split tunneling, or split-exclude in CyberGhost parlance, is available on Windows and Android.
Hundreds of low-latency speedy servers, some of the fastest in our tests
DDoS-protected, and a NAT firewall comes built-in on the apps
Apps are easy to install and use, and are highly configurable for your gaming
Power users would prefer more control over advanced features
BEGINNERS CHOICE:CyberGhost is great for beginners, is good value and is easy to use. Vast server representation is great for gaming. Stores no logs and streams HD video reliably. 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full CyberGhost review.
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6. VyprVPN
Like IPVanish, VyprVPN utilizes Tier 1 network providers and owns all of its own server infrastructure around the world, which means very little lag and a lot of bandwidth for gamers. It operates data centers in over 60 countries. The desktop app shows the ping time for each so you can find the one with the least amount of lag. A NAT firewall is built in to stop hackers and botnet attacks. German eSports professional team Roughnex famously uses VyprVPN to prevent DDoS attacks during tournaments.
VyprVPN’s parent company, Golden Frog, is now alpha testing a new service it describes as an “optimized gaming network” which promises to lower ping time, reduce lag, and reroute traffic to avoid network congestion. We’ll add more details as they become available.
Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. The “connection-per-app” feature supports split tunneling on Android. VyprVPN also makes an app for routers that have compatible firmware.
Uses Tier1 ISPs for low lag and high bandwidth connections, ideal for gaming
Well-known for their strong DDoS protection
Speeds are fast and stable
Could have more options for advanced configuration
No cryptocurrency payment options
Two-tier pricing structure can be confusing
USER FRIENDLY:VyprVPN has fast servers which is great for gaming. Solid privacy and security features. Could do with having more servers and lacks 24/7 support. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full VyprVPN review.
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Methodology for assessing the best VPNs for gaming
Deciding which VPN to use for gaming can be tricky. After all, they’re fairly complex pieces of software and the choices are almost limitless, with new providers popping up all of the time. To determine which VPNs are best, we need to first identify which aspects have the biggest impact on gaming, and then set a base standard for each. Here are the criteria we used to separate the best from the rest:
Speed: The most important consideration for a gaming VPN. Low speeds often result in lag, stuttering, and sporadic disconnections. To prevent this, all of the services we recommend must provide above-average speeds in our most recent speed tests.
Network size: Generally, the closer your chosen server is, the lower your latency (although other factors impact this as well). It’s important that a gaming VPN has solid global coverage so that you always have access to a nearby server. Our recommendations all cover at least 55 countries.
Security features: Gamers come up against all kinds of threats, from DDoS attacks to targeted harassment (including particularly dangerous types such as SWATTING). The best VPNs for gaming must include a variety of tools (like encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection) designed to keep your true identity and location anonymous.
Bandwidth limit: Some services restrict the amount of data you can use each month. Others reduce your speeds after a certain allowance. To ensure you can game as much as you like, our top VPNs for gaming must offer unlimited bandwidth and must not throttle your speeds under any circumstances.
Logging policy: For maximum anonymity, these services must not log any data that could identify you. Ideally, they’d keep no logs at all, since this prevents them from divulging any user info, at any time. Find out more about each VPN’s logging policy here.
Unblocking ability: If your game isn’t available worldwide, doesn’t let you switch regions manually, or holds region-exclusive events, you may have to bypass its geographic restrictions using a VPN. Our top VPNs must be able to evade detection to reduce the chance of any consequences, such as a temporary ban.
Of course, this is just the first step. These tests form part of the VPN testing and analysis our team performs as part of our wider research process.
Gaming VPN FAQs
Does a VPN reduce ping time and lag? In most cases, no. A VPN sends your data through an intermediary server, which is typically slower than a direct connection. On top of that, all the data must be encrypted and decrypted between your device and the VPN server, further increasing lag and ping time. A few exceptions do exist, such as when the VPN allows the player to bypass congested bottlenecks between their device and the game server. But this largely depends on the player’s environment, the game’s servers, and their I play games from other regions? Yes, a VPN changes your IP address, which is how most games will determine your location. If you want to play a game that’s only available in Japan, for example, just connect to a VPN server in Japan. Likewise, many online games segregate players by region, forcing them onto region-specific servers. A VPN can get you onto servers from any region where it operates servers. Bear in mind that you might also require a local payment method and a local game I use a free VPN for gaming? Not really. Free VPNs tend to be much slower and less reliable than paid VPNs. On top of that, they offer fewer server locations, limiting your region-unblocking options. Free VPNs are also less secure and often harvest your personal data to make money from targeted does a VPN protect me when gaming? If someone launches a DDoS or other attack against your IP address while gaming, that attack will hit the VPN servers instead of your device. This will shield you from attack and hide your real IP address. A VPN will also prevent any third parties on your local network from snooping on your it legal to use a VPN for gaming? Generally, yes. Some games might prohibit the use of VPNs and other proxies in their terms of service. However, even in cases where that is true, it would be difficult for game administrators to detect whether or not you’re using a I use a VPN to access Steam/Xbox Live/PlayStation Network while abroad? If you’re in a country where your preferred game network is blocked, then a VPN can unblock it. In China, for example, many game networks like Xbox Live and PlayStation Network are censored. Just make sure to use a VPN that works in China. A VPN can also help in purchasing situations when you’re traveling abroad. A game might not be available on Steam in certain regions, or you might require a local form of payment, for example. A VPN can help you access your local version of Steam so you can purchase games should my VPN settings be for gaming? Typically the default settings on your VPN app should work just fine. All you need to do is select a server location where you can access the games you want to play. Servers that are geographically closest tend to offer the best ping times. Most VPN protocols offer roughly the same speed. If your VPN allows it, use a lower-strength encryption and disable extra privacy features like modulating IP addresses and traffic I unblock games at school or work? Yes, a VPN should allow you to unblock games that are normally filtered by firewalls at offices and schools. Your internet connection is completely private while connected to a VPN, so no third parties can see the websites your visit or the games you play.
VPNs for hosting games online
Now you know which VPNs to choose from if all you want to do is play a game online. But if you want to host one? That requires a couple more criteria to consider:
Port forwarding. Games often only operate on certain ports. Game servers and older LAN games will require a VPN equipped with port forwarding. This allows other gamers to find and connect to your public IP address through the forwarded port. Note that it’s not necessary or even recommended to port forward your router and the VPN at the same time. Only the VPN requires port forwarding, or else risk opening yourself up to attack.
Static IP addresses, also sometimes referred to as dedicated IPs, though the two differ slightly. A static IP address will allow you to run a reliable game server that won’t change IPs all the time. They can also allow friends to connect to your host computer via LAN apps like Hamachi and Evolve without constantly updating your IP address.
With those criteria in mind, here are a few VPNs for hosting online games:
LiquidVPN: Servers with dedicated IPs can be found using the “topology” dropdown in the LiquidVPN app and choosing “dedicated. ” You can open ports in the firewall and have them forwarded to your IP address right from the control panel. For an extra fee, LiquidVPN offers private static IP addresses to users. These IPs are exclusive to the user and not shared with others. Read our full review of LiquidVPN.
NordVPN: Offers a handful of static IP servers at no extra cost. Port forwarding is not yet supported, but the company says it plans to implement it in a forthcoming update.
AirVPN: Each Air VPN server has one static exit-IP address with which clients connected to that server are “visible” on the internet. No specific setup is necessary. Users may forward up to 20 ports simultaneously from the client area dashboard on AirVPN’s website. Private dedicated IPs are available and can be requested by contacting AirVPN.
TorGuard: You can add dedicated server IPs to a list in the TorGuard app in the settings menu, under the Servers tab. It will then appear at the top of the server selection list on the main client. To set up port forwarding, you’ll need to request it on the TorGuard website. Processing is usually instant. Go go My Services > View Details >> Management Actions >> Port Management.
VPNs that gamers should avoid
BolehVPN
We like BolehVPN on the whole, but not for gaming. We’re only singling it out here because we’ve seen multiple other sites claiming that BolehVPN offers gaming optimized servers and game hosting services. In fact, it never offered gaming-optimized servers and has since quit selling game hosting services. With only 14 countries to choose from, it’s just not great for gaming.
Free VPNs
Free VPNs usually have a limited number of servers, cap data transfers, require queueing to connect, and throttle bandwidth. They also tend to have worse security and privacy policies compared to paid VPN services, so they are unsuitable for gaming.
Using PPTP for a faster connection
Normally we never recommend PPTP over other protocols like OpenVPN, SSTP, or L2TP. If those are too slow, however, you may consider using the PPTP protocol when gaming. PPTP tends to be faster than the other options and is still widely supported both by VPN providers and operating systems.
Be warned, however, that you shouldn’t depend on a PPTP VPN connection to keep you secure. The protocol has known security vulnerabilities. Don’t use it for any privacy-critical tasks.
SOCKS5 proxy for gaming
If all you want to do is access a game that’s geo-blocked in your area, consider using a SOCKS5 proxy. Because SOCKS5 proxies don’t encrypt traffic by default, they tend to be faster than VPNs (not the overloaded free ones, mind you).
Bear in mind, however, that SOCKS5 proxies don’t come with any of the security bonuses of VPNs. The provider can mine your traffic for personal data and inject malware or advertisements. You won’t get a NAT firewall or DDoS protection.
NordVPN subscriptions come with free SOCKS5 proxies and plenty of locations to choose from. The company maintains a strict no-logs policy, so you don’t have to worry about them abusing your data.
See also: If you are looking for speed, check out our list of the fastest VPN services.
How to keep kids safe when gaming online
Privacy and security are just as important when you game as when you browse the internet. Kids who game online can put themselves at risk of a range of threats including cyber harassment, malware infection, SWATTING, invasion of privacy, and generally conversing with strangers that you’d rather them not communicate with.
Here are a few precautions you can implement to keep your kids safe online while gaming:
Use a VPN. This will mask your home’s real IP address and replace it with that of the VPN server, making it much more difficult for any third party to track your location or identify your device
Keep your devices and software up to date. Don’t sit on security updates for your computers, smartphones, and game consoles. Likewise, update apps and games as soon as updates are available
Avoid pirating games and only download games from reputable sites and vendors
Use the parental controls and filtering built into your game console or Steam to steer kids away from mature content
Wipe personal details and other data from unused devices
Disable the voice chat on games that use public matchmaking to team up with strangers
Don’t use a webcam when streaming on Twitch
Don’t use a real photo as an avatar
Don’t use your real name in your gamer handle or profile. In fact, don’t fill out any non-essential information in your profile.
Configure your account settings so that your child cannot spend money on games or microtransactions without your permission
While all that can help protect your child online, the best protection is awareness. Talk to your child about the risks of divulging personal information to strangers. Here are a few guidelines for kids:
Never reveal your real age, name, school, or location
Never arrange to meet someone you met in the game in real life
If you are bullied or made to feel uncomfortable, tell an adult. Kids should not be punished for confiding in their parents
Don’t believe what strangers tell you online
Don’t be a troll
What is a Proxy Server and How Does it Work? – Varonis
The actual nuts and bolts of how the internet works are not something people often stop to consider. The problem with that is the inherent danger of data security breaches and identity theft that come along with the cute dog pictures, 24-hour news updates, and great deals online.
But what actually happens when you browse the web? You might be using a proxy server at your office, on a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or you could be one of the more tech-savvy who always use a proxy server of some kind or another.
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What’s a Proxy Server?
A proxy server is any machine that translates traffic between networks or protocols. It’s an intermediary server separating end-user clients from the destinations that they browse. Proxy servers provide varying levels of functionality, security, and privacy depending on your use case, needs, or company policy.
If you’re using a proxy server, traffic flows through the proxy server on its way to the address you requested. The request then comes back through that same proxy server (there are exceptions to this rule), and then the proxy server forwards the data received from the website to you.
If that’s all it does, why bother with a proxy server? Why not just go straight from to the website and back?
Modern proxy servers do much more than forward web requests, all in the name of data security and network performance. Proxy servers act as a firewall and web filter, provide shared network connections, and cache data to speed up common requests. A good proxy server keeps users and the internal network protected from the bad stuff that lives out in the wild internet. Lastly, proxy servers can provide a high level of privacy.
How Does a Proxy Server Operate?
Every computer on the internet needs to have a unique Internet Protocol (IP) Address. Think of this IP address as your computer’s street address. Just as the post office knows to deliver your mail to your street address, the internet knows how to send the correct data to the correct computer by the IP address.
A proxy server is basically a computer on the internet with its own IP address that your computer knows. When you send a web request, your request goes to the proxy server first. The proxy server then makes your web request on your behalf, collects the response from the web server, and forwards you the web page data so you can see the page in your browser.
When the proxy server forwards your web requests, it can make changes to the data you send and still get you the information that you expect to see. A proxy server can change your IP address, so the web server doesn’t know exactly where you are in the world. It can encrypt your data, so your data is unreadable in transit. And lastly, a proxy server can block access to certain web pages, based on IP address.
What are Forward Proxies
A forward proxy server sits between the client and an external network. It evaluates the outbound requests and takes action on them before relaying that request to the external resource.
Most proxy services that you’re likely to encounter are forward proxies. Virtual Private Networks and Web content filters are both examples of forward proxies.
What are Reverse Proxies
A reverse proxy server sits between a network and multiple other internal resources. A large website might have dozens of servers that collectively serve requests from a single domain. To accomplish that, client requests would resolve to a machine that would act as a load balancer. The load balancer would then proxy that traffic back to the individual servers.
Some popular open source reverse proxies are:
Varnish
Squid
Why Should You Use a Proxy Server?
There are several reasons organizations and individuals use a proxy server.
To control internet usage of employees and children: Organizations and parents set up proxy servers to control and monitor how their employees or kids use the internet. Most organizations don’t want you looking at specific websites on company time, and they can configure the proxy server to deny access to specific sites, instead redirecting you with a nice note asking you to refrain from looking at said sites on the company network. They can also monitor and log all web requests, so even though they might not block the site, they know how much time you spend cyberloafing.
Bandwidth savings and improved speeds: Organizations can also get better overall network performance with a good proxy server. Proxy servers can cache (save a copy of the website locally) popular websites – so when you ask for, the proxy server will check to see if it has the most recent copy of the site, and then send you the saved copy. What this means is that when hundreds of people hit at the same time from the same proxy server, the proxy server only sends one request to This saves bandwidth for the company and improves the network performance.
Privacy benefits: Individuals and organizations alike use proxy servers to browse the internet more privately. Some proxy servers will change the IP address and other identifying information the web request contains. This means the destination server doesn’t know who actually made the original request, which helps keeps your personal information and browsing habits more private.
Improved security: Proxy servers provide security benefits on top of the privacy benefits. You can configure your proxy server to encrypt your web requests to keep prying eyes from reading your transactions. You can also prevent known malware sites from any access through the proxy server. Additionally, organizations can couple their proxy server with a Virtual Private Network (VPN), so remote users always access the internet through the company proxy. A VPN is a direct connection to the company network that companies provide to external or remote users. By using a VPN, the company can control and verify that their users have access to the resources (email, internal data) they need, while also providing a secure connection for the user to protect the company data.
Get access to blocked resources: Proxy servers allow users to circumvent content restrictions imposed by companies or governments. Is the local sportsball team’s game blacked out online? Log into a proxy server on the other side of the country and watch from there. The proxy server makes it look like you are in California, but you actually live in North Carolina. Several governments around the world closely monitor and restrict access to the internet, and proxy servers offer their citizens access to an uncensored internet.
Now that you have an idea about why organizations and individuals use a proxy server, take a look at the risks below.
Proxy Server Risks
You do need to be cautious when you choose a proxy server: a few common risks can negate any of the potential benefits:
Free proxy server risks
You know the old saying “you get what you pay for? ” Well, using one of the many free proxy server services can be quite risky, even the services using ad-based revenue models.
Free usually means they aren’t investing heavily in backend hardware or encryption. You’ll likely see performance issues and potential data security issues. If you ever find a completely “free” proxy server, tread very carefully. Some of those are just looking to steal your credit card numbers.
Browsing history log
The proxy server has your original IP address and web request information possibly unencrypted, saved locally. Make sure to check if your proxy server logs and saves that data – and what kind of retention or law enforcement cooperation policies they follow.
If you expect to use a proxy server for privacy, but the vendor is just logging and selling your data you might not be receiving the expected value for the service.
No encryption
If you use a proxy server without encryption, you might as well not use a proxy server. No encryption means you are sending your requests as plain text. Anyone who is listening will be able to pull usernames and passwords and account information really easily. Make sure whatever proxy server you use provides full encryption capability.
Types of Proxy Servers
Not all proxy servers work the same way. It’s important to understand exactly what functionality you’re getting from the proxy server, and ensure that the proxy server meets your use case.
Transparent Proxy
A transparent proxy tells websites that it is a proxy server and it will still pass along your IP address, identifying you to the web server. Businesses, public libraries, and schools often use transparent proxies for content filtering: they’re easy to set up both client and server side.
Anonymous Proxy
An anonymous proxy will identify itself as a proxy, but it won’t pass your IP address to the website – this helps prevent identity theft and keep your browsing habits private. They can also prevent a website from serving you targeted marketing content based on your location. For example, if knows you live in Raleigh, NC, they will show you news stories they feel are relevant to Raleigh, NC. Browsing anonymously will prevent a website from using some ad targeting techniques, but is not a 100% guarantee.
Distorting proxy
A distorting proxy server passes along a false IP address for you while identifying itself as a proxy. This serves similar purposes as the anonymous proxy, but by passing a false IP address, you can appear to be from a different location to get around content restrictions.
High Anonymity proxy
High Anonymity proxy servers periodically change the IP address they present to the web server, making it very difficult to keep track of what traffic belongs to who. High anonymity proxies, like the TOR Network, is the most private and secure way to read the internet.
Proxy servers are a hot item in the news these days with the controversies around Net Neutrality and censorship. By removing net neutrality protections in the United States, Internet Service Providers (ISP) are now able to control your bandwidth and internet traffic. ISPs can potentially tell you what sites you can and cannot see. While there’s a great amount of uncertainty around what is going to happen with Net Neutrality, it’s possible that proxy servers will provide some ability to work around an ISPs restrictions.
Varonis analyzes data from proxy servers to protect you from data breaches and cyber attacks. The addition of proxy data gives more context to better analyze user behavior trends for abnormalities. You can get an alert on that suspicious activity with actionable intelligence to investigate and deal with the incident.
For example, a user accessing GDPR data might not be significant on its own. But if they access GDPR data and then try to upload it to an external website, it could be an exfiltration attempt and potential data breach. Without the context provided by file system monitoring, proxy monitoring, and Varonis threat models, you might see these events in a vacuum and not realize you need to prevent a data breach.
Get a 1:1 demo to see these threat models in action – and see what your proxy data could be telling you.
Frequently Asked Questions about is a proxy server good for gaming
What is the best proxy for gaming?
Best VPNs for playing and hosting online gamesNordVPN: Best gaming VPN. … Surfshark: Best budget alternative. … ExpressVPN: Operates servers in 94 countries. … IPVanish: Fast servers in more than 60 countries. … CyberGhost: Great value VPN. … VyprVPN: Tier 1 Network provider with servers in 60+ countries.May 17, 2021
Is a proxy server bad?
Proxy servers act as a firewall and web filter, provide shared network connections, and cache data to speed up common requests. A good proxy server keeps users and the internal network protected from the bad stuff that lives out in the wild internet. Lastly, proxy servers can provide a high level of privacy.May 7, 2021
What is a gaming proxy?
This form of gaming allows a player to participate in a live table casino game without having to physically be present at the table. … The player can only live stream the game while the proxy physically places the bet. The player watches the outcome and if it is a winning gamble, then the money is awarded to the proxy.