Why a VPN is essential for on-the-go multiplayer

NordVPN provides protection to online mobile gamers using public Wi-Fi networks, while delivering low-latency connections for seamless gaming on the go. Thanks to its NordLynx protocol, personal details are encrypted to keep them safe, and the connections to lag-free servers are optimised to give the best possible gaming experience while travelling, with our testing showing a near-imperceptible impact on ping compared to a standard connection.

Mobile gaming has advanced to a level where you can now play high-end titles directly on your phone, which is great for breaking up lengthy public transport journeys or the boredom of your daily commute. However, many of these require internet connectivity that relies on public Wi-Fi networks, which are insecure and using them puts your personal information at risk.

TL;DR

• Mobile games can harvest your data, leading to a hidden cost.
• Using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks puts you at risk of hacking, snooping, or identity theft, but NordVPN will protect you.
• NordVPN privacy has been audited, and independently confirmed as having zero-logs status.
• The NordVPN app gives you instant protection and access to optimised lag-free servers.

How do mobile games collect my data?

A mobile VPN protects your personal data from being harvested by intrusive apps. While many mobile games are offered on a free-to-play basis, there can be a hidden cost in how they collect telemetry and location data behind the scenes. According to NordVPN research, 87% percent of Android apps and 60% of iOS apps requested permissions that were not needed for their functions. By harvesting this unnecessary data, the makers of the app can build up a detailed picture of where you are and how you use your phone, which can then be used for targeted advertising or sold elsewhere.

As you can see from the table above, a large proportion of the top apps on Android and iOS request permissions for data that isn't needed to carry out their functions, so you should always check these permissions and consider if the app really needs that date before tapping the "Accept" prompt. Although the numbers suggest that iOS apps are more privacy-oriented, these results are skewed by the iOS digital ecosystem which reveals less information on average about what data is being collected. Whichever operating system you use, by going through a mobile VPN you can prevent this data from being transmitted and maintain a secure connection to keep your personal information safe.

NordVPN keeps your data safe when gaming on-the-go

NordVPN guards against data leaks using AES-256 encryption, the cybersecurity gold standard, ensuring your sensitive data and browsing habits remain inaccessible to hackers or malicious actors. Using its proprietary NordLynx protocol, NordVPN also provides fast connection speeds and solid network stability with near-zero lag, giving you a protected low-latency environment that is perfect for the most intense mobile gaming experiences.

While gaming on-the-go you'll regularly be connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, which are often unsecured and you can never be sure who is monitoring the traffic on them, so if you don't use a mobile VPN then you're putting your data at risk. For additional safety, the app also has an Auto-connect feature that automatically encrypts connections when it detects unsecured networks to provide always-on security, while the Kill Switch function automatically cuts internet access if the connection drops to prevent data from leaking.

How do I know my information will be safe when using NordVPN?

You can rest assured that your information is safe with NordVPN as it has been subjected to rigorous Deloitte ISAE 3000 privacy auditing, with an independent audit recently providing verifiable proof of NordVPN's strict zero-logs policy for the sixth time. This validated that there is no user traffic or connection metadata stored, which is a verification that cannot be provided by free VPNs. NordVPN's network operates under Panama's privacy-friendly jurisdiction through diskless, RAM-only servers that are physically incapable of local data logging, making NordVPN far superior to other providers that rely on vulnerable hard-drive storage. RAM-only servers provide a number of benefits, including no data persistence to erase sensitive data and a reduced risk of data breach as data is erased upon power-down.

NordVPN's redesigned mobile app gives you instant protection

The NordVPN mobile app has been fully redesigned for both Android and iOS, making it easier than ever before to mask your location and block tracking scripts. Opening the app gives you access to a full-screen interactive map, and with a single tap you can select an optimised NordLynx server to connect with. With access secured, you can jump into demanding real-time games such as Call of Duty: Mobile while on your morning train commute, knowing that your connection will be lag-free and your platform credentials are safe.

Does using the NordVPN mobile app drain my phone's battery?

According to the latest West Coast Labs report, NordVPN shows no significant battery impact across rigorous testing on both iOS and Android, and while the phone's battery screen reported around 49% of session usage to NordVPN, the actual power consumption measured at hardware level was just 1.6-2.1%, which means having an active mobile VPN will only negligibly affect battery drain. A common misconception is that using a mobile VPN will consume excessive battery power, causing your phone to lose charge more quickly. However, real-world independent testing has shown this is not true, and that any indication on your phone battery screen suggesting otherwise is simply a misreporting of standard usage by the device's operating system.

Source

What other benefits are there of using NordVPN?

As well as keeping your personal information secure and providing access to optimised NordLynx servers, there are additional benefits to using NordVPN. By using SmartPlay technology you can automatically bypass geoblocks to get around regional restrictions, and receive high quality buffer-free streaming directly to your phone without having to do any manual server-switching. Meshnet private networking means you can establish direct point-to-point encrypted tunnels between remote devices, allowing you to create virtual multiplayer LAN sessions without having to rely on third-party cloud servers.

The best news is that your NordVPN subscription consolidates web encryption, password management, cloud storage, malware defense, and dark web monitoring into an all-in-one privacy and security plan, meaning you just have a single bill to cover your essential digital security tools and mobile connectivity.

If you want to access lag-free gaming on the move while also keeping your personal data safe and avoiding malicious threats online, then get the NordVPN app today for your Android or iOS device.

FAQ