Content:
- Hiding your identity from hackers, governments and corporations
- Do I need to use a VPN to be safe on Twitch?
- Reasons a streamer might want to use a VPN
- Is there a free VPN good enough for streaming?
- Top 3 VPNs for Streamers in 2021
- ExpressVPN: This is the best VPN on the market right now.
- NordVPN: Plenty of servers and great performance.
- Surfshark: A cheap VPN that’s great for video streaming.
- Summarizing
If you start streaming on Twitch , you may be concerned about your online privacy . You may have heard about VPNs and how they can help keep you safe online. Let’s take a look and see if it’s worth buying a VPN for your stream.
Hiding your identity from hackers, governments and corporations
Knowing how to secure your IP (Internet Protocol) is always helpful when you become famous on Twitch. When you accidentally give this valuable number, you expose yourself to terrible dangers on the Internet.
When other people know your IP, they can directly attack your connection. Sometimes they tend to use old DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) tricks. In turn , your stream may become vulnerable and you will lose your Internet connection for a while.
Also, once someone knows your IP address, they might even share it with their friends/”hacker” community. In other words, you will have a terrible time when you are streaming peacefully. To fix this, you may need to call your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and ask them to help you fix the problem.
In this article, we’ll discuss the preventative ways you can take to secure your IP address and prevent any issues as you continue to grow with your traffic.
Do I need to use a VPN to be safe on Twitch?
Short answer: no. Websites like Twitch don’t share sensitive information like the user’s IP address with anyone. So you can schedule any stream without worrying about the Twitch platform.
Plus, having a healthy conversation with viewers via Twitch chat will keep you just as secure. Hence, you can leave comments on your channel or even when visiting other streamers.
However, as you may already know, you should never trust strangers who visit your channel. Sometimes “harmful” viewers can share a link to an unknown website in your chat. If you click on the link, you will probably see a malicious site, but at the same time, they can get your IP.
It is always recommended to block any links to websites from untrustworthy visitors. What’s more, with this small change to your broadcast, you’ll keep your viewers safe from any possible threats.
To change this setting on your channel, follow these steps:
- Go to Twitch and click on the icon in the top right corner (your avatar).
- Select Contributor Toolbox.
- In the Creator Dashboard, look at the left menu and click Settings.
- Then click “Moderation”.
- In the Chat Options section, click Block Hyperlinks.
Reasons a streamer might want to use a VPN
First, the main reason you need to use a VPN while streaming is to protect your IP address. When you use any VPN, you will have a different IP address and hide your location. However, the price you will pay will be in monthly fees and increased latency (lag).
Even though Twitch gives you the tools to protect your channel, sometimes it’s not enough. As you may already know, there are still threats on the Internet that aim to collect this information.
As we mentioned earlier, malicious links will make it much easier to get your IP. However, there are other ways to share important information while you’re having fun with your viewers.
One way is to share a video call when using older versions of Skype. At the same time, any unsafe program that can start a video conference can be dangerous for your channel. Therefore, you will need to use a VPN or do some thorough research before using anything.
Secondly, some of the oldest multiplayer games have this vulnerability. Indeed, in the middle of a fun match between your viewers, someone can access the “console” of the game and get your IP address. If you’re not careful enough, simple tasks like these can reveal your information without your knowledge.
Last but not least, it’s a good idea to block any untrustworthy person who tries to add you to anything. For example, ignore/block any friendly invites from Steam, Skype, Origin, or anything related to your current multiplayer games.
If you want to avoid these issues, you can take the easy route and opt for a VPN. Most notably, even if they can get your “fake” IP, they won’t have any power over you.
Is there a free VPN good enough for streaming?
While you can save a few dollars when using a free VPN, the results aren’t all that great. In this part of the article, we will tell you why moving in this direction can become problematic.
First of all, almost all free VPNs have multiple countries that can be used for your account.
Therefore, you will need to select a server from another location, which may be far from your location. In other words, you will have a huge lag when you try to play multiplayer games.
Secondly, many of these options have low “download speed” for all available servers. As you may already know, download speed is critical when you’re trying to stream. If the speed is slow or inconsistent, you will lose video quality or the feed will be interrupted. What’s more, viewers can get “pixelated” screens when the game gets “heavy” (too much movement).
Finally , free VPNs usually come with “free trials” that can last for days or even hours. When time runs out, you will need to create another account or pay a monthly fee. If you are in the middle of a stream, you will lose your connection and end the show.
If you’re serious about streaming, you’ll be safer using a full-fledged paid VPN service.
Top 3 VPNs for Streamers in 2021
ExpressVPN: This is the best VPN on the market right now.
ExpressVPN is one of the most popular VPNs on the market right now . It’s known for its incredibly fast speeds, making it perfect for streaming and gaming while ensuring no lag at the same time.
They regularly change your server IP address to protect you and never log data such as browsing history, data usage or IP address.
Functions:
- 3000 servers in 94 countries
- 5 devices per license (use on your phone, iPad and computer)
- 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
NordVPN: Plenty of servers and great performance.
NordVPN is another VPN service that has been around for a long time. NordVPN is known as one of the best VPNs for gaming. It comes with DDoS protection, worldwide access and a secure gaming experience.
Functions:
- Prevents DDoS attacks
- Play games in any region
- Stops bandwidth throttling
Surfshark: A cheap VPN that’s great for video streaming.
Surfshark is a newer VPN that hit the market , however, that doesn’t mean it’s not up to the mark when it comes to gaming. Surfshark will help you hide your IP in Discord and other chats like Skype. They also help protect you from DDoS attacks.
Functions:
- fast speeds
- Accessible
- Access to international games
- DDoS attack protection
Summarizing
While all VPNs can help you protect important information like your IP address, the best protection is the user. When you have enough knowledge to protect your computer from online threats, nothing will stop you.
First of all, you will have a better connection when you stream and play multiplayer games. Plus, you can save a few dollars since you don’t have to pay monthly fees for the best VPNs.
However, if you feel comfortable using a VPN, go for it. After all, it’s your broadcast and it’s up to you to protect yourself from any online threats.
