Unlike other digital products, VPNs are multifaceted and can perform numerous functions. One such function of a VPN is to help with a decrease in latency or ping. Thus, a VPN can make your internet connection faster by removing buffering. But is that all? We know that a virtual private network or VPN is also a service. This service can help users with their daily internet problems, ranging from privacy to online gaming. But how does a VPN do it? A VPN uses encryption to connect a client to a remote server.
This server is the key to most of the VPN functions. If the server is well-placed, it can aid with streaming, anti-censorship, geo-spoofing, bypassing blocks, gaming, torrenting, and much more. Once again, one effect of a VPN on our internet connection is the reduction of ping. Due to latency, we can encounter an unstable connection, but here’s how this security technology solves that.
What is ping?
Ping or Packet Internet/Inter-network Groper is an internet program in the computer networking field. It is a test devised to gauge the network strength between two connections or systems. Hence, it allows users to test and verify if a particular IP address exists in reality or not. If there is such an address, it may be feasible to establish a connection between the two systems. These systems may be of any type: personal computer, server, switch, router, or gateway. Thus, it was created to verify whether the specific computer on the network exists or not.
It is simple to use ping. Any operating system with networking capabilities can run such a test. However, this topic is somewhat bloated. When we refer to the term ping, we are comprehending the naive rhetoric of the associated results and after-effects. What we mean is that a ping test allows users to see how strong a network connection is and its speed and stability. But we refer to these results as the ping of a network. The higher the ping, the less stable and slower the network, and vice versa. Thus, when we talk about how a VPN can help with ping, we are wondering about the results of a ping test and how a VPN can improve them.
Hence, the ping test validates the latency of a server and determines the connection speed between two points. Also, it shows the network health. Therefore, a ping is a simple test. However, the corresponding results carry crucial information that can adversely or positively affect a network.
How does pinging work?
When two systems get connected in a network, users can send a package of packets from one point to another. It can determine the network connectivity as it gradually generates a response. The sending of such packets is what we call pinging. Ping works by sending an Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo Request to a specified interface on the network, and then it awaits a response. Hence, when users issue a ping command, a signal is sent to a particular network address. When the target host receives the echo request, it responds by sending an echo reply packet.
The latter packet is of great significance, as it can determine the network’s health. It serves two critical purposes. First, it specifies if the target address is available and online. Second, it calculates the relevant latency. Here, latency is also known as the round trip time (RTT). RTT is a calculation of how long it takes for the target to receive and respond to a request, and we measure it in milliseconds or ms. The whole process starts when a browser sends a request to a server.
It is completed when a response is generated and received by the host. Thus, RTT is a measurement of web applications. Generally, a ping sends multiple requests and displays the aggregate results. The echo shows whether a particular request received a successful response or not. It also figures out the number of bytes received and the time taken to complete a round trip (latency).
Can a VPN help with ping?
Yes, a VPN can assist with ping. Although the statement is not technically correct in networking terms, for the laymen, it states that a VPN can deal with the results of a ping. More specifically, a VPN can aid with a high ping rate. Ping accurately determines the latency between two connections. One reason for a high latency is the routing tables that determine how the packets got to the destination.
If they took a roundabout way to reach a target, then, undoubtedly, the resulting latency and ping will be high. Thus, a VPN can reduce it by making the data packets take the shortest possible route by using VPN servers. Hence, “A VPN can reduce latency,” should be the accurate statement. But the ping determines the latency of a network. Thus, a higher ping represents a higher one, and we’re correct to assume that a VPN can aid us with our ping.
Specific ways a VPN assists with pinging
First, one needs to establish if there is a bottleneck in a network. If not, and the routing is straightforward, no VPN can further improve your network latency. However, numerous servers often deal with overcrowding, and the routing table determines pathways. Thus, chances are they will encounter congestion. Hence, a VPN in play can force the data packets into considering other routes. It will reduce latency and counter network congestion. Another point that signifies the help of a VPN is the core ability of the service. Any VPN can encrypt data traffic and hide it from the ISP (Internet Service Provider), effectively shielding you against data throttling.
Sometimes you encounter ping not because your data took a congested route. But the ISP deliberately made it slower by forcing it to take longer routing channels. Why? There are numerous reasons behind ISP throttling. However, remember that a VPN can counter it. If you encounter ping as a result of throttling, your VPN, with the help of encryption, can resolve the issue. Thus, there are ways to optimize your ping by using a VPN, and the primary one is selecting a high-quality provider. Mentioned below are a few tips that can help you in finding the best VPN that can lower ping.
- Pick a low latency VPN — Not all VPNs have an extensive network. You should go after the vendor with the most diverse network. Also, take into account the quality and location of the servers and do not solely rely on the numbers. Doing so will allow your VPN to route data effectively.
- Always choose a relevant server location — Remember, the closest servers are often the fastest. But avoid servers with crowding. Although most VPNs claim to offer unlimited bandwidth, it doesn’t refer to the server strength but the data transfer. Thus, select a server that is geographically close to you to reduce latency and counter ping.
- Customize your VPN — You can also pick VPN protocols that help with speed. Older protocols like PPTP are not secure, but much faster than the all-rounder OpenVPN. WireGuard is also a relatively better choice.