Can I use a VPN with the Steam Client? (not for purchasing)

[IsuccToez]

Hi,

I would like to know if I can use a VPN when I'm playing for example GTA V Online, since it's P2P and I don't want my info to be out there.
I know that you can get banned for using a VPN to bypass region restrictions in the Store, so for purchases, the VPN would be off.

So my question is, can I have my VPN turned on at all times, using the Steam Client, playing games etc. without getting banned.

Thank you in advance!

[ShelLuser]

Depends on the game(s) you play, not Steam. When things go sour with a game or its publisher then that's on them, it's not Steam who'd be doing the punishment.

Also... the best people could get from your connection is your IP address and that does not give them any personal information about you.

[IsuccToez]

Originally posted by ShelLuser:

Depends on the game(s) you play, not Steam. When things go sour with a game or its publisher then that's on them, it's not Steam who'd be doing the punishment.

Also... the best people could get from your connection is your IP address and that does not give them any personal information about you.

I usually play CK3, Cyberpunk 2077... usually non Steam Games (VAC protected games)

So if I'm understanding you correctly, I can use my VPN and use Steam normally except when purchasing games and playing VAC games?

[HikariLight]

The Steam Subscriber Agreement states that use of a Location Proxy (a VPN) is not allowed.

If you use a VPN to access the forums no one will really care, but using it to purchase or play games could lead to a ban.

[IsuccToez]

Originally posted by HikariLight:

The Steam Subscriber Agreement states that use of a Location Proxy (a VPN) is not allowed.

If you use a VPN to access the forums no one will really care, but using it to purchase or play games could lead to a ban.

I meant using the Steam Client as usual (browsing the store, the steam workshop, downloading the games that I already own, reading the newsletter etc.), playing non-VAC games, without getting banned. For example, if I wanted to play Dota or CS2, I would turn off the VPN and also if I were to purchase anything.

[ReBoot]

What info will, do you think, get out there?

[IsuccToez]

Originally posted by ReBoot:

What info will, do you think, get out there?

My location and also to prevent DDOS

[Chika Ogiue]

Originally posted by IsuccToez:

I know that you can get banned for using a VPN to bypass region restrictions in the Store, so for purchases, the VPN would be off.

IP address (and as such VPN use) don't have any affect anymore on store region. So you cannot use a VPN alone on an existing account to bypass regional restrictions. You'd have to commit some form of payment fraud to do that. If you're not intending on committing payment fraud, you can happily use a decent VPN with Steam. Valve won't even notice, nor care.

[ShelLuser]

Originally posted by IsuccToez:

Originally posted by ReBoot:

What info will, do you think, get out there?

My location and also to prevent DDOS

Your IP address does not give your location away, for the simple reason that it's not owned by you but your ISP. The location of an IP address merely points to the relay station of your ISP.

This could be in the same town or city, sure, but it can just as easily be 5 cities over.

As for DDOS... most ISP's already provide protection for that. For example, not many ISP's hand out so called static IP addresses. In other words: disconnect your modem, wait 5 minutes, re-connect: wham... now you have another IP address and thus no more incoming garbage data.

A VPN isn't a magic shield or anything. In fact, it can easily ruin your gaming experience because trust me: you're going to be adding a lot of lag and sluggishness. I mean think about it: you encrypt all your data (takes CPU cycles), sent all of that off to the VPN relay, they process the data and then re-send it to the original destination on your behalf.

Returning data is picked up by them, processed, encrypted and finally sent back to your computer which then has to de-crypt it after which it can finally process and us it.

That's a lot of extra overhead.

Fun fact: did you know that global ISP's are foced to comply with several government laws that clearly determine how they can handle and process your data? Laws which also forbid such ISP's from using your data for their own profit.

Here's a noodle for you: VPN providers do not have to comply with such laws (not yet anyway) and can pretty much do whatever they'd like with your data. And since it's a VPN service you're conveniently sending them all your data for them to process. But ey, at least they keep promising to keep you safe, so that must obviously be true :P

[IsuccToez]

Originally posted by Chika Ogiue:

Originally posted by IsuccToez:

I know that you can get banned for using a VPN to bypass region restrictions in the Store, so for purchases, the VPN would be off.

IP address (and as such VPN use) don't have any affect anymore on store region. So you cannot use a VPN alone on an existing account to bypass regional restrictions. You'd have to commit some form of payment fraud to do that. If you're not intending on committing payment fraud, you can happily use a decent VPN with Steam. Valve won't even notice, nor care.

I know that they adjusted the Store to be the same for all countries or something like that, but this part it the SSA kinda worries me, idk if they just didn't update it.

"You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to order or purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, Valve may terminate your access to your Account."

Which conflicts with this:
https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/1433-AD20-F11D-B71E/

"How can I Prevent Games From Sharing My IP Address?
The only reliable way to prevent any game from sharing your IP address is to use a VPN. In this situation, your public IP will be the address of the VPN provider's computer, and your IP will stay private."

[Chika Ogiue]

Valve haven't updated that section of the SSA for years. It does not take into account the changes they made to how they determine store region. For that matter, even when it was relevant, Valve never truly punished VPN usage as long as monetary transactions were not involved.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by Chika Ogiue:

Valve haven't updated that section of the SSA for years. It does not take into account the changes they made to how they determine store region. For that matter, even when it was relevant, Valve never truly punished VPN usage as long as monetary transactions were not involved.

Also with how common and easy it is to get a good VPN, it's kind of a losing battle.

[Kage Goomba]

Yes.

But VPN's tend to raise red flags with servers - indicating you have something to hide.
Also this notion of "preventing DDOS" is silly.

Why would anyone want to DDOS you an single computer.
If you pissed someone off that much you have bigger problems.

The other issue is VPN's don't play nice with NAT Routing/Bandwidth gets funny funny.
Only the better ones cost monies.

So yeah you can use one - but don't be surprised if you end up crossing a line somewhere that gets you in trouble due to violation of Region/Country lines or some other.

Thankfully the risk is only limited to your choices and mindset.

So long as you behave yourself you'll be fine pretty much.

In case you didn't get the memo - don't do ANYTHING with money and you'll be fine.
(That includes selling)

[IsuccToez]

Originally posted by Kage Goomba:

Yes.

But VPN's tend to raise red flags with servers - indicating you have something to hide.
Also this notion of "preventing DDOS" is silly.

Why would anyone want to DDOS you an single computer.
If you pissed someone off that much you have bigger problems.

The other issue is VPN's don't play nice with NAT Routing/Bandwidth gets funny funny.
Only the better ones cost monies.

So yeah you can use one - but don't be surprised if you end up crossing a line somewhere that gets you in trouble due to violation of Region/Country lines or some other.

Thankfully the risk is only limited to your choices and mindset.

So long as you behave yourself you'll be fine pretty much.

In case you didn't get the memo - don't do ANYTHING with money and you'll be fine.
(That includes selling)

I'm using Malwarebytes Privacy VPN
Also the DDOS thing is mostly GTA Online related, modders like to ♥♥♥♥ up your game.

Server wise, I picked my own country. I'll only be using different regions for Prime Video, Netflix etc.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by IsuccToez:

Originally posted by Kage Goomba:

Yes.

But VPN's tend to raise red flags with servers - indicating you have something to hide.
Also this notion of "preventing DDOS" is silly.

Why would anyone want to DDOS you an single computer.
If you pissed someone off that much you have bigger problems.

The other issue is VPN's don't play nice with NAT Routing/Bandwidth gets funny funny.
Only the better ones cost monies.

So yeah you can use one - but don't be surprised if you end up crossing a line somewhere that gets you in trouble due to violation of Region/Country lines or some other.

Thankfully the risk is only limited to your choices and mindset.

So long as you behave yourself you'll be fine pretty much.

In case you didn't get the memo - don't do ANYTHING with money and you'll be fine.
(That includes selling)

I'm using Malwarebytes Privacy VPN
Also the DDOS thing is mostly GTA Online related, modders like to ♥♥♥♥ up your game.

Isn't that a free VPN?

[IsuccToez]

Originally posted by SlowMango:

Originally posted by IsuccToez:

I'm using Malwarebytes Privacy VPN
Also the DDOS thing is mostly GTA Online related, modders like to ♥♥♥♥ up your game.

Isn't that a free VPN?

It has a 7 day free trial, it's $39.99 annually for one device.