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When it comes to tracking when browsing the web, many Brits may not realise just how much information can be traced back to them.
Your internet service provider (ISP) can see every site you visit, including websites that you visit, how long you spend on those sites, the files you download, unencrypted passwords, and even your location.
It doesn’t just stop there. Ever since the introduction of the Online Safety Act, there has also been a major spotlight on online privacy, forcing households to verify their age when they visit certain websites, and some sites have even blocked UK IP addresses due to the new checks.
Enabling a VPN, like ExpressVPN, can reduce the ping when playing online
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This has led to a surge in interest in the best VPN deals.
With a focus on this new era of surveillance, it brings privacy to the forefront for those who regularly use the internet. And if you’re a computer whizz, you might be wondering whether or not an internet ping can be traced while you’re using a VPN service.
If you’re a bit confused, here’s what you need to know about ping and how a VPN can help mask a ping and your IP address.
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What is ping?
When we refer to ping, it is usually referred to as a utility and a metric for network connectivity.
In terms of networking, ping is a command and utility used to measure the round-trip time for messages sent from host to a destination computer across an Internet Protocol (IP) network. Ping is also an important factor in online gaming. It is arguably the most important factor in determining the quality of a player's online experience, and the lower your ping is, the better your experience will be.
Ping is usually measured in milliseconds (ms) – the lower the number, the better the connection. The higher the ping, or ‘lag’ as it’s called, the direct the consequence of high ping.
Your ping time is the duration of that entire round trip. A high ping means you see the result of your action delayed, creating a disconnect between what you see on your screen and what the server is processing in real time. Gamers often use built-in game menus, third-party software, or the operating system's command prompt to check their connection quality before joining a match.
Can a ping be traced if you’re using a VPN?
A ping can be traced thanks to a VPN, it will only be traced to the VPN server's IP address, not your real IP address or physical location, protecting your privacy and identity.
A VPN effectively acts as a middleman, masking your true identity by routing all network traffic, including ICMP (ping) packets, through its own servers within an encrypted tunnel.
However, it’s important to make sure that you use a reputable and premium VPN provider. Free VPN services often lack robust security features, may suffer from IP or DNS leaks, and sometimes log and sell user data, compromising your privacy
The "ping" metric is often used in online gaming to determine the quality of the internet connection, and how it will affect multiplayer games
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It’s important to use a VPN that has a robust no-logs policy that does not store logs of your online activities or real IP address, meaning there is no data that could be used to trace the ping back to you even if legally requested by authorities.
Free VPNs could lead to sudden VPN disconnections due to data caps. If your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, your device might revert to using your real IP address for a short period, exposing your location and activity.
Quality VPNs mitigate this risk with a kill switch feature that automatically blocks all internet traffic if the connection fails.
The good news is that ExpressVPN has both of these features, including a robust no-logs policy and a kill switch called ‘Network Lock’ that helps block internet traffic from leaving the VPN tunnel during interruptions, supporting stronger privacy.
The Network Lock is designed to reduce the risk of your device leaking your IP address or location, or sending any of your data unencrypted.
Meanwhile, ExpressVPN has a strict privacy policy, which several independent security firms have audited.
ExpressVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands, which is a jurisdiction with strong privacy laws. That means this award-winning VPN does not need to keep logs of online activities or personal information and will never collect your browsing history, traffic destination or metadata, DNS queries, or any IP addresses you are assigned when you connect to the VPN.
How to interpret ping results
You’ve checked your ping, but now you’re wondering how to know if it’s suitable for gaming. Here’s a simple breakdown of what constitutes good medium and bad ping for gaming.
- Good ping (0–50ms): Excellent for gaming. Your actions happen almost instantly, with no noticeable delays.
- Medium ping (51–100ms): Playable, but you might notice slight delays, especially in fast-paced games.
- Bad ping (101–200ms): The noticeable lag makes competitive gaming frustrating.
- Very bad ping (200ms or higher): The game feels unresponsive, with major delays – playing at this level is extremely difficult
VPNs work by encrypting all of your online traffic before it's sent over the internet. This prevents your ISP, advertisers, hackers, and fraudsters from tracking your online activity, stealing your personal data, or placing restrictions on you | EXPRESSVPN PRESS OFFICE Benefits of ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is particularly well-suited for streaming, privacy and hiding your IP as it boasts VPN server locations in 105 countries, providing access to global coverage. It offers ultra-fast speeds on a 10-Gbps network, essential for high-quality streaming without buffering.
With military-grade encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and features like split tunnelling and a kill switch, your online activity stays private.
Based in the British Virgin Islands — outside Five Eyes jurisdiction — it avoids mandatory data retention laws, which means that even if the company were collecting data (it's not), law enforcement from the UK and US would be unable to compel ExpressVPN to hand over any information about its subscribers.
ExpressVPN supports a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, and routers. There's no limit on the number of apps that you can download, but with a single subscription, you can only sign-in on up to 10x devices simultaneously.
It also has a dedicated team that optimises the service for major streaming platforms. Round-the-clock customer support is available if you encounter any issues during race weekend. ExpressVPN isn't the cheapest VPN. However, its 30-day money-back guarantee makes it a risk-free choice for privacy-conscious users and frequent streamers.
It should also give new customers the confidence to subscribe to one of its longer contracts, which unlock the biggest discounts.
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