Gaming has been growing in popularity for years. In 2022, there were 3,2 billion gamers worldwide and 430 million in Europe. Video and PC games are no longer a marginal phenomenon, and online gaming has also become an everyday hobby for many.
But cybercriminals are taking advantage of this popularity, which is why it is recommended for gamers to use a VPN to protect their consoles, PCs or online games. But is it worth leaving the VPN active all the time?
Arguments for a permanently active VPN
The simple and short answer to the question of whether you should keep a VPN on permanently is yes.
For the detailed answer, find out what dangers can lurk for players, especially in the area of online gaming, in order to understand why an always-active VPN can make sense, especially when gaming. Below is a selection:
Argument 1: Detect malware early
Cybercriminals can infect seemingly legitimate software or apps with malware. It may happen that you are looking for a specific game and do a Google search. One of the results takes you to a download site that offers the game for significantly less money than others platforms. You enthusiastically click on the download link without thinking too much. But instead of the game, you download malware onto your device.
The same thing can happen with freeware, i.e. games that are actually free; or with gaming apps in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, where malicious applications disguise themselves as legitimate apps. If you already know in advance which game you want to download, purchase the game on the developer's website or be directed to the official download page in the App or Play Store.
As for the usefulness of a VPN in this case, some premium VPN providers come with the useful feature of automatically scanning files you download for malware. In this way you save yourself an additional malware program. The tool can also warn you if you are at risk of visiting a malicious website.
Argument 2: Enjoy games without worry, even on public WiFi networks
If you also like to play online on the go, it may be tempting to use one of the hotspots in cafés, airports, universities or train stations. The big disadvantage, however, is that these public Wi-Fi networks are rarely adequately protected or even protected at all.
If you connect to this network during your online game, unknown third parties who also use these hotspots can intercept your data. A VPN can help. Because your data is sent to the VPN server in encrypted form so that it cannot be viewed from outside. This makes it virtually impossible for hackers to intercept them.
However, make sure to generally avoid financial transactions (purchasing games or in-app purchases) that require you to enter credit card or bank details in hotspots.
Argument 3: Protection against DDoS attacks
Online games require you to connect to a server located somewhere in the world. Hackers can target this server with a DDoS attack and cause it to crash. So many requests are sent to the server that it becomes overloaded.
For you as a player, a DDoS attack can result in you being kicked off a server in the middle of a game. Or you can no longer log in to the game. There may also be extreme delays in the game.
In addition: When Peer-to-peer gaming and when chatting within a game, other gamers can get to your IP address and personally select you as the target of a DDoS attack. Motives can be manipulation of the course of the game, blackmail or simply boredom.
With a VPN you can hide your real IP address so that hackers cannot launch a DDoS attack. In addition, they cannot abuse your PC for large-scale attacks.
Argument 4: More choice and cheaper prices for game subscriptions
A VPN for PS5, XBOX or your PC can be helpful, choosing platforms like PlayStation Plus or Game Pass from Microsoft to increase or reduce the price. Similar to streaming platforms, selection and price can vary depending on the country.
Check whether subscriptions are cheaper in other countries than in your country and connect to the relevant VPN server. Be careful not to violate the provider's terms and conditions.
Conclusion
Leaving a VPN on while gaming has many benefits. Especially when you are outside your own WiFi network, an active VPN is a must for more security and privacy. Choose a premium VPN to ensure the best possible cybersecurity and performance, and stay alert to cyber threats even with the VPN on.
