Using a VPN for World of Warcraft is a risky move. Many people use a VPN for gaming because of the faster server speeds. Blizzard Entertainment doesn’t prohibit the use of VPN’s for World of Warcraft, but the company doesn’t encourage it either. The problem is some players have used VPN’s for account sharing and boosting. All of which are forms of cheating. So then what is a VPN? If using a VPN is so risky, then why do some players feel they need to use one?
VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. A VPN for World of Warcraft gives you the ability to connect to any WoW server worldwide. The power to connect to any server is massive especially if you’re overseas. A VPN for World of Warcraft will give you access to the game in restricted environments like school or work. So a VPN allows you to bypass blocks. VPN’s also gives you the ability to play on the global World of Warcraft servers. Any content which is restricted in your region would now be open to you. VPNs also reduce ping. Ping is when you experience lag or latency in the game.
A VPN for World of Warcraft could allow you to bypass timezones. If your busy schedule has you playing late at night when most players are sleeping, then you might want to use a VPN to access other servers. Now you’ll have other gamers to play with. VPN’s for gaming can also provide a faster experience. Professional gamers will use VPN’s in eSports competitions to ensure they’re using a fast and reliable server. Connecting a VPN for Warcraft to your home server produces faster results.
Will using a VPN for World of Warcraft get you banned?
How Does a VPN Work?
- Change your IP Address
- Mask your Location
- Cloak your IP Address
- Gain Access to Blocked Sites
- Encrypt Data Transfers
A VPN can spoof your location. This allows a VPN to protect your identity and hide your online activity. About 95% of Americans are concerned about their cybersecurity. The government has tracked down criminals by using their Internet Protocol addresses. Your IP address is a specific number assigned to your computer. Think of it as your computer’s home address. Hackers and the government can see this personal information. An IP address can lead to stalking and cyber attacks. A VPN can protect you on public Wifi.
Major corporations use VPN’s to protect their cybersecurity. For many people, a VPN is just as important as any security program on your computer. Today, users store so much personal information on their computers and online. A VPN ensures that your privacy will always be protected. VPN’s require a monthly fee to continue its services. So it’s almost like extra insurance coverage for your computer each month.
Not all VPNs will work for your needs. You may need to try more than one company or server. A VPN for World of Warcraft must be able to access the game server. Some VPNs may slow down your game too much. You’ll want to test the ping for each VPN. Not all VPNs work in every country. If you’re planning to play WoW outside of the US be sure to research which VPN is the best option for you.
What Is A No-logs VPN?
A no-logs VPN service means the company doesn’t collect any user data. You may want to keep an eye out for VPN companies that are considered no-logs if protecting your privacy is important. Most VPN companies are no-logs because the point of a VPN is to keep you safe. So they don’t collect personal details, your downloads, where you go online, or what you look up in search engines. This is crucial if your VPN service is located in countries that are apart of the five-eyes alliance. You don’t want to find out that the government has taken your data. Since no-log companies don’t keep a record you can rest assured your information isn’t being sold to a third party.
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1. Express VPN
Pros
- Fastest VPN service
- Available in 94 countries
- Access to 3,000+ servers worldwide
- Supports Open VPN
- No-Logs Policy
- $6.67 per month- Check Packages
Cons
- Expensive
- Only offers three connections per license
- Located in the British Virgin Islands (Five-eyes country)
A great VPN for World of Warcraft is ExpressVPN. Their speed is unmatched, and they’re highly secure. On Trustpilot, ExpressVPN has a score of 9.3 out of 10 from 4,161 reviews. ExpressVPN also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee if you don’t like the service. The service is one of the few which can bypass China’s great firewall and Netflix’s VPN Radar. Express VPN also works with uTorrent so you can download large files quickly and efficiently.
Express VPN only offers three connections per license. This means you can only connect three devices at one time. Pure VPN allows you to connect five devices whereas IPVanish VPN allows you to connect ten. Express VPN was also audited by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers). PwC is one of the four largest professional advisory and services assurance companies worldwide. Express VPN can say with confidence that they may know a customer connected to their service, but they don’t know what they did. Your security is completely protected while using the Express VPN server. You may review the audit here.
2. Pure VPN
Pros
- 6500+ servers from 180+ locations.
- 10-multi-logins
- 31-day money-back guarantee
- NO-LOG Certified from Atlius and KPMG
- Dedicated Servers for streaming
- Dedicated Servers for downloading
- Access 7-Netflix regional libraries US, UK, CA, DE, FR, JP, AU
- Access Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer
- Fast speeds
- Special limited time offer $4.16 per month – Check Offer (Use Coupon Code during checkout for 10 % discount: warcraftlover)
Cons
- Support is lacking
- Apps may run into problems
- Located in Hong Kong (Pure VPN doesn’t answer the mainland China)
Pure VPN is one of the best VPN for World of Warcraft. The service has 2,000+ self-managed servers across 140+ countries. The VPN supports BitTorrent and has a wide array of protocols to choose from. Pure VPN allows five devices at a time. They also offer support for many different Apps. These devices include Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and Linux. Usually, Pure VPN is priced at $10.95 per month, but for a limited time, you can snag this amazing service for $4.16 monthly.
On Trustpilot, Pure VPN has an excellent five-star rating with 9,131 reviews. Pure VPN has a 31-day money-back guarantee. So if you discover the service isn’t for you then you don’t need to worry. Pure VPN offers servers in China, Turkey, and Russia. Not every VPN is available in those countries, especially because they have strict internet policies. Pure VPN offers DDoS protection and NAT firewall. This makes Pure VPN one of the best VPN for gaming. You can read my review on PureVPN here.
General Impressions On PureVPN: Update Regarding Netflix and Other Streaming Services (May 2020)
PureVPN has done some updates regarding streaming services since I tried it. There are now 10 Netflix regional libraries including the US, UK, DE, FR, JP, CA, AU, PL, CZ, and GR. Disney+, Hulu, and other prominent streaming services are available. Also, PureVPN is offering 10 multi-logins and a buy 1 gift 12 offer, which means after a purchase of any plan, then users can gift 12 monthly accounts to anyone they choose. Be sure to add the coupon code: warcraftlover during checkout for a 10 percent discount.
3. IPVanish VPN
Pros
- Ability to connect to 10 devices at once
- A large number of servers in great locations
- Automatic cycling of IP address
- Supports Open VPN
- Access to 1300+ servers worldwide
- No-Logs Policy
- Offer: 67% off annual subscription ($3.99/month; first billing cycle) + 250 GB of SugarSync cloud storage
- Expiration: Offer ends February 29, 2020 – Check Offer
Cons
- Limited global server presence
- The interface isn’t user-friendly
- Located in the United States (Five-eyes country)
IPVanish VPN has a sale going on until January 31, 2020. For a limited time, you can receive 2 years of VPN and secure storage for $4.12 per month. Usually, this amazing service is priced at $10.00 per month. On Trustpilot, IPVanish VPN has a five-star rating and 4,420 reviews. IPVanish VPN has a network that spans 40,000+ IPs on 1,300+ servers in 75+ locations. IPVanish VPN is also one of the best VPN for BitTorrent because it doesn’t restrict your freedom and flexibility to a specific server.
Their many locations allow you to have unrestricted internet globally. IPVanish VPN provides encryption for all of your devices. So not only can you use their VPN for World of Warcraft, but you can also use the best VPN for streaming too. IPVanish VPN works well with Disney+ and Netflix. In terms of speed, IPVAnish VPN is slower than ExpressVPN. Your mileage may vary depending on what servers you’re accessing.
4. Strong VPN
Pros
- Fast speed
- Has Netflix Support
- Supports 5 connections at once
- Has 950+ servers in 30 countries
- No-logs Policy
- Strong VPN is $5.83 per month – Check Prices
Cons
- Assigns servers at random
- Overpriced
- Outdated user interface
- Located in the United States (five-eyes country)
- Open VPN is difficult to use
When using a VPN for gaming you’ll want to consider Strong VPN. They support 5 simultaneous connections. Also, a Strong VPN has 950+ servers. Torrenting is allowed. Strong VPN has a 4.5 score on Trustpilot with 1,635 reviews. As a good VPN for gaming, a Strong VPN will protect your cybersecurity. Being a victim of cyber hacking is no joke. Your social security number, address, credit card, and driver license numbers can be stolen. The infamous Equifax data breach which occurred in 2017 impacted 209,000+ people. Strong VPN will ensure that this never happens to you.
Strong VPN offers a 7-day money-back guarantee. The service is great for streaming Netflix and Hulu. Setting up a Strong VPN might be difficult for a beginner. The service has many menus and the terms of service are long and convoluted. Strong VPN also collects a lot of personal information upfront including your account name, billing address, and email. You may want to try a different VPN service like Express VPN or Pure VPN for better clarity about protections.
How Do You Use a VPN for Gaming?
- Download games from other countries
- Protection from DDoS attack
- Improve lag and reduce ping
- Stay anonymous by encrypting your gaming traffic
- Gain access to multiplayer games anywhere in the world
Using a VPN for World of Warcraft is good, but you probably play other games too. In general, a VPN for gaming allows you to download games from other countries. So if there’s a game you’ve always wanted to play, but it’s only available in Japan well a VPN will give you access. What the VPN does is it that your computer appears to be in another place. Your IP is temporarily changed. So this is how you gain access to different games, and it’s how you encrypt your gaming traffic. Multiplayer games like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy, and League of Legends can benefit from a VPNs use.
For example, a VPN for League of Legends would allow you to bypass restrictions. Riot games operate LoL from 10 servers worldwide. Some regions are unable to play LoL. A VPN lets you get around the block. If you’re traveling overseas you’ll want to use a VPN. Another example includes a VPN for Final Fantasy XIV. After a patch update 4.4, many players complained about high latency and frequent disconnects. Players believed the issue was coming from Square Enix’s side. When you’re having trouble connecting to your favorite games, then using a VPN can ensure you’ll be able to play.
What If Using A VPN for World of Warcraft Gets You Banned?
Blizzard can flag your account for suspicious activity. The problem is that VPN’s state that your computer is in a different location. One critical mistake gamers make is not knowing when to turn their VPN on and off. Some players don’t use the VPN for World of Warcraft, but they instead will use it for Netflix and other services. There’s nothing wrong with this, but if you’re not using the VPN for World of Warcraft then you should turn it off when you’re playing the game. Your account looks as if it was hacked. So you’ll have to send Blizzard a ticket to explain what’s going on.
Now some players have used a VPN when stationed overseas. Members of the armed forces may have problems accessing the game from certain countries. Blizzard is likely to reverse the ban if you explain your situation. So before you use a VPN for World of Warcraft, or any game, be sure you understand the risks. You don’t want Blizzard to assume that you’re illegally making gold, account trading, or boosting your character.
Should I Use A Free VPN for World of Warcraft?
A VPN for gaming should be high-quality. Free VPNs are bad to use. Most free VPNs don’t provide the same level of protection as higher-quality VPNs. You want a VPN for gaming to have networks in convenient locations, lightning-fast speeds, and unlimited bandwidth. If you’re using your VPN for your PS4 or Xbox one then you’ll want a premium service. A VPN can’t be installed on a console, but you can use a VPN to protect your internet router. Free VPNs also limit the number of servers you can access.
Best VPN for World of Warcraft
Will using a VPN for World of Warcraft get you banned? There’s a moderate risk of Blizzard Entertainment banning you. Sometimes Blizzard will assume your account has been hacked. A VPN can place your IP in any location around the globe. The best VPN for gaming won’t necessarily prevent you from being banned. You’ll have to determine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Also, connecting to some VPNs may cause WoW to be slower. The process of encrypting your traffic can slow the process. You’ll need to test different VPN servers to find the one best for you. You can read my review on PureVPN. Their program has a 31-day money-back guarantee. Most VPN companies also use a VPN protocol called Open VPN. Unless you’re tech-savvy, you’ll want to subscribe to a VPN service that uses the protocol.
A VPN works by sending data to and from the internet through virtual tunnels. Open VPN is considered an industry standard. The protocol provides tunneling through a Secure Sockets Layer. The system has 256-bit encryption which makes it difficult to hack. Experts suggest you subscribe to a VPN service rather than try to install the complicated protocol yourself.
Five-Eyes Countries – What you need to know
You should also be aware of the Five-eyes (Fvey) countries. The five-eyes countries are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. What you should know is that these countries have surveillance. So if your VPN provider is located within one of the five-eyes then your information may not be as secure as you think. Be sure to read the terms of service agreement for any VPN company you consider. Your privacy is important.
Will Using A VPN For World Of Warcraft Get You Banned?
Using a VPN for gaming in general poses a risk. You’ll want to consider both the positives and negatives before you make a decision. If using a VPN for World of Warcraft grants peace of mind then you should use one. A VPN can reduce ping in your games. This means your games will experience less lag. Also, a VPN can protect you from other players who would attack your system. When looking for the best VPN for WoW you also need to consider other uses. Will you be using the VPN to watch Netflix? Also, you might want to think about where a VPN company is located. There is the five-eyes, nine-eyes, and fourteen-eyes agreements you need to be aware of.
Our cybersecurity is increasingly under threat. Using a VPN is the best way to ensure your protection. The best VPN will depend on your needs. As you’re looking for a VPN for gaming pay attention to servers. You might be interested in accessing a server from abroad. World of Warcraft has servers in the United States, China, Europe, and Korea. If you’re trying to access a server in China then you’ll want to pay attention to which VPNs offer service in China. The VPN access is restricted in certain countries.
Final Thoughts
Do The Benefits Outweigh The Risks?
The benefits of VPN for gaming far outweigh the risks. No one wants hackers or the government to gain access to private information. Everyone should use a VPN to protect themselves. Discovering your identity has been stolen is anyone’s worse nightmare. Always do your research before choosing a VPN. Be sure to read the terms of service and customer reviews. Some VPN companies have passed information over to the government. To ensure your safety always read the fine print. A VPN for World of Warcraft should be fast and secure. You can also use your VPN for consoles too. The best way to use a VPN for consoles is to install it on your router. By placing the VPN on your router you can make sure all of your internet browsings are protected.
Some VPNs are no-logs. Remember, a no-log VPN service is what you want. You want to be sure that your information won’t be passed on to someone else. There are VPN companies that were paid by third parties to pass over sensitive data. All VPN services should mention their no-logs policy in their terms of service. The government has also approached VPN companies to find criminals. Although fighting crime is a good thing there is no filter on who’s computer may be virtually searched. Countries that are a part of the five-eyes alliance are more likely to breach your data. When choosing a VPN provider always check the location, and read the terms of service. It’s the only way to be safe.
One last thing…
Before you go check out the ten reasons to start a gaming blog, how to make a profitable gaming blog, and will World of Warcraft have patch 8.3.5? If you found this post helpful please be sure to share it on social media. If you enjoy Warcraftlover’s content, then feel free to learn more about how to show your support.
Thank you for hanging out at my hearth.
Happy Hunting,
Spyells