HAVE QUESTIONS?

Yes. FriendlyVPN operates on hosting infrastructure with built-in DDoS protection and upstream mitigation.

Our hosting provider operates its own DDoS mitigation infrastructure, allowing malicious traffic to be detected and filtered upstream before it can affect our VPN servers.

OVHcloud advertises more than 100 Tbps of global network capacity and approximately 1.3 Tbps of anti-DDoS infrastructure.

FriendlyVPN also operates its own local firewall and traffic controls, providing another layer of filtering after upstream protection.

An attack against a FriendlyVPN IP does not automatically mean the VPN server will go offline.

The hosting network can identify and mitigate malicious traffic upstream, while FriendlyVPN's own firewall and traffic controls provide additional filtering locally.

If malicious traffic is successfully filtered upstream, customers may see little or no effect.

If traffic reaches the server but is rejected locally, the upstream network still carried that traffic to the machine. This is why upstream mitigation remains important for large volumetric attacks.

FriendlyVPN customers can use our server dashboard to view current server health and network activity.

• Inbound traffic
• Outbound traffic
• Mbps
• Packets per second (PPS)
• Conntrack usage
• Server uptime
• Server latency
• Current server activity

If a large flood is actually reaching the server and consuming meaningful network resources, you would normally expect to see abnormal activity.

For example, during a substantial inbound flood, inbound traffic may become significantly larger than outbound traffic.

No.

PPS and bandwidth measurements include legitimate traffic as well as malicious traffic.

Gaming, browsing, voice communications and normal customer connections all generate packets.

An attack should be evaluated from the overall traffic pattern and its effect on server health rather than from one PPS or Mbps number alone.

When your gaming traffic is properly routed through FriendlyVPN, remote peers communicating through that VPN-routed connection generally see the FriendlyVPN public IP instead of your residential public IP.

This is especially useful with applications and games that use peer-to-peer networking.

Connecting to a VPN does not erase an address somebody already obtained previously.

Yes, if they already know your residential public IP.

Someone who already possesses your home IP does not need to target the VPN address. They could attempt to target your residential connection directly.

If you believe your residential IP was previously exposed, obtaining a new public IP from your ISP where possible can provide a fresh address before relying on the VPN to conceal it.

No. Knowing a FriendlyVPN server's public IP does not by itself reveal a customer's name, home address, residential IP or payment information.

A VPN server address identifies VPN infrastructure. It is not a direct representation of the identity of an individual customer.

No provider can responsibly guarantee that no attack under any circumstances could ever cause disruption.

FriendlyVPN's objective is to place protected infrastructure between your VPN-routed gaming traffic and remote Internet hosts.

We combine upstream DDoS mitigation with local firewall policies and gaming-oriented server configurations.

It can, but lower ping cannot be guaranteed.

A VPN changes the network route between you and the destination. If FriendlyVPN provides a better route than your ISP normally uses, your latency could improve.

If your ISP already has an excellent route, latency may remain similar or increase slightly.

Our objective is to provide fast, stable routes suitable for gaming rather than advertise an unrealistic lower-ping guarantee.

Any VPN introduces some additional routing and encapsulation, but FriendlyVPN is designed around latency-sensitive gaming traffic.

Your experience can also be affected by your Wi-Fi, ISP, routing, game servers, packet loss, device performance and other players.

The FriendlyVPN dashboard helps customers determine whether the VPN server itself is experiencing abnormal latency or load.

Yes.

GTA Online and Red Dead Online can involve peer-to-peer networking between players.

When applicable game traffic is routed through FriendlyVPN, other peers communicating with you through that connection interact with the VPN's public-facing address instead of directly communicating with your residential public IP.

FriendlyVPN cannot control Rockstar services, game bugs, host migrations or other players' network connections.

FriendlyVPN helps protect your residential connection from direct IP-based attacks when the relevant traffic is routed through the VPN.

However, not every disconnect is a DDoS attack.

• Game crashes
• Host migration
• Lobby failures
• ISP problems
• Wi-Fi problems
• Packet loss
• Peer connectivity problems
• Game-specific bugs or exploits

A disconnect therefore does not automatically mean FriendlyVPN was attacked.

A disconnect does not automatically mean you were DDoSed.

Host migration, peer connectivity, Wi-Fi, ISP routing, packet loss, game-server problems, NAT behavior and the game itself can all cause disconnects.

If FriendlyVPN's server latency, bandwidth, PPS and health indicators remain normal during the problem, the VPN server itself may not be the cause.

Generally, start with the server geographically closest to you.

Shorter physical distance is usually a good starting point for lower latency.

Internet routing is not determined by distance alone, however. Your ISP, game infrastructure and the location of other players can sometimes make a slightly farther FriendlyVPN server perform better.

If you have multiple nearby locations available, test them and compare latency and stability.

Yes.

If your plan provides access to multiple FriendlyVPN locations or configurations, you can switch between those locations.

Changing servers will normally also change the public VPN IP used by your VPN-routed traffic.

Not necessarily.

A VPN server naturally processes legitimate packets generated by games, websites, voice applications and customers.

A sudden abnormal increase in inbound PPS accompanied by increased latency, packet loss or other server-health problems is more informative than PPS alone.

No.

A VPN can change your public-facing IP, routing path and NAT environment, which can help in some situations.

However, matchmaking behavior, game networking, ISP routing, peer connectivity and game infrastructure remain outside FriendlyVPN's complete control.

Yes. XLAG and similar network-emulation applications are not restricted to a particular VPN.

They can generally operate while connected using:

• WireGuard
• OpenVPN UDP
• OpenVPN TCP

Applications using WinDivert operate on traffic on your own Windows system, so their behavior depends heavily on your network, configuration and settings.

FriendlyVPN does not make XLAG itself inherently more powerful.

However, FriendlyVPN servers are specifically configured for gaming and use high-clock-speed CPUs with networking configurations intended for efficient packet processing.

A stable, responsive VPN connection can therefore provide a better underlying environment for latency-sensitive gaming traffic.

No.

You can use compatible WireGuard or OpenVPN applications directly.

FriendlyVPN Tunnel is recommended because it makes it easier to view and manage information associated with your service, including:

• Configuration/profile name
• Expiration date
• Bandwidth usage
• Connection information
• Protocol options
• OpenVPN UDP/TCP
• TAP/DCO and other supported modes

The application can also make supported configuration changes without requiring you to manually edit configuration files.

Both provide encrypted VPN tunnels, but they use different designs.

WireGuard is lightweight and efficient and is generally an excellent first choice for gaming.

OpenVPN is a mature VPN platform providing additional transport and configuration options, including UDP and TCP.

If you are unsure, start with WireGuard for gaming and try OpenVPN when you need its additional compatibility or connection modes.

For most latency-sensitive gaming traffic, UDP is normally the preferred starting point.

OpenVPN TCP can still be useful on networks where UDP is unavailable, restricted or behaving poorly.

For gaming, FriendlyVPN generally recommends trying WireGuard or OpenVPN UDP first.

There is no single VPN protocol that is ideal for every network.

WireGuard provides a lightweight and efficient option that works very well for many gaming connections.

OpenVPN provides additional flexibility, including UDP, TCP and other supported operating modes.

Multiple protocols also provide customers with alternatives when a particular ISP, router or device behaves differently with one protocol.

Yes.

FriendlyVPN configurations can be used with compatible mobile WireGuard and OpenVPN applications.

This allows supported mobile browsing, gaming and other Internet traffic to use the VPN.

FriendlyVPN can be used on supported mobile devices through WireGuard or OpenVPN.

For most customers, setup is:

1. Download the WireGuard or OpenVPN application on your phone.
2. Download or receive your FriendlyVPN configuration file.
3. Open the VPN application.
4. Import your FriendlyVPN configuration.
5. Select the imported FriendlyVPN profile.
6. Press Connect.
7. Approve the VPN connection request if your phone asks for permission.

Once connected, supported Internet traffic from your phone will be routed through FriendlyVPN.

For gaming, WireGuard is generally the recommended starting point because it is lightweight and efficient.

FriendlyVPN can be used on a Windows computer through WireGuard, OpenVPN, or the FriendlyVPN Tunnel application.

For a normal setup:

1. Install WireGuard, OpenVPN, or FriendlyVPN Tunnel.
2. Download or receive your FriendlyVPN configuration.
3. Import the configuration into the VPN application.
4. Select your FriendlyVPN profile.
5. Press Connect.
6. Confirm that the VPN shows as connected before launching your game or application.

For most gaming customers, WireGuard is a good place to start because it is lightweight and efficient.

OpenVPN is also available when you need additional options such as UDP, TCP, TAP, DCO, or other supported connection modes.

The FriendlyVPN Tunnel application can simplify setup by managing supported configuration options and displaying information such as your profile name, expiration date, bandwidth usage, and connection settings.

Yes.

PlayStation and Xbox consoles generally cannot directly import a standard WireGuard or OpenVPN configuration.

Instead, you can connect FriendlyVPN on your Windows computer and share the computer's VPN connection with your console.

There are two main ways to do this:

• Method 1 — Ethernet/LAN sharing — Recommended
• Method 2 — Windows Mobile Hotspot — Wireless

If possible, we recommend the Ethernet method for gaming because a wired connection between your computer and console normally provides better latency and stability.

This is the recommended console-sharing method.

Your connection will look like:

Internet → Windows PC → FriendlyVPN → Ethernet cable → PlayStation/Xbox

Your PC connects to FriendlyVPN first, and Windows then shares that VPN connection through the Ethernet port to your console.

What you need

• A Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer
• FriendlyVPN connected on the computer
• An Ethernet/LAN port on the computer
• An Ethernet cable
• A PlayStation or Xbox

Step 1 — Connect FriendlyVPN

Connect to FriendlyVPN on your computer using WireGuard, OpenVPN, or FriendlyVPN Tunnel. Make sure the VPN is successfully connected before enabling sharing.

Step 2 — Open your Windows network adapters

Windows 10:

Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings

You can also begin from Settings → Network & Internet → Status and open the network-adapter options from there.

Windows 11:

The classic adapter window is still available through:

Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings

You can also begin from Settings → Network & internet. Windows 11 may show the newer Settings interface first, but the classic Network Connections window is useful because it displays WireGuard, OpenVPN, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and other adapters separately.

Step 3 — Find your FriendlyVPN adapter

In Network Connections, you may see adapters such as:

• Ethernet
• Wi-Fi
• WireGuard
• OpenVPN TAP
• OpenVPN DCO
• FriendlyVPN-related adapters
• Bluetooth
• Other virtual adapters

Identify the adapter currently being used by FriendlyVPN.

Step 4 — Enable Internet Connection Sharing

Right-click the active FriendlyVPN/VPN adapter and select:

Properties → Sharing

Enable:

Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection

Windows will ask which network connection should receive the shared connection. Select the Ethernet adapter connected to your PlayStation or Xbox, then press OK.

Step 5 — Connect the console

1. Connect an Ethernet cable from your computer's Ethernet port to the PlayStation or Xbox.
2. Open the console's network settings.
3. Select a wired/LAN connection.
4. Use automatic/default IP and DNS settings unless FriendlyVPN support specifically tells you otherwise.
5. Test the Internet connection.

Your traffic should now follow:

PlayStation/Xbox → Windows PC → FriendlyVPN → Internet

Don't have an Ethernet cable, or want several nearby devices to use the VPN connection?

You can turn your Windows computer into a Wi-Fi hotspot and share the FriendlyVPN connection wirelessly.

Your connection can look like:

Internet → Windows PC → FriendlyVPN → Windows Mobile Hotspot → PlayStation/Xbox/other devices

This is useful for consoles, phones, tablets, laptops, or friends' devices when you want supported traffic from those devices to go through the VPN-routed connection instead of directly using your normal residential public Internet connection.

Windows 11 — Open Mobile Hotspot

Navigate to:

Start → Settings → Network & internet → Mobile hotspot

Configure the connection you want to share, choose Wi-Fi as the sharing method, set the hotspot network name/password if needed, and turn Mobile hotspot on.

Windows 10 — Open Mobile Hotspot

Navigate to:

Start → Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile hotspot

Choose the Internet connection to share, configure the network name/password if needed, and enable Share my Internet connection with other devices.

Make sure the hotspot is sharing FriendlyVPN

Simply enabling Mobile Hotspot does not always guarantee that the VPN adapter is the connection being shared. If required, configure Windows Internet Connection Sharing from the active VPN adapter.

On both Windows 10 and Windows 11, open:

Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings

Find the active FriendlyVPN/WireGuard/OpenVPN adapter, then:

Right-click VPN adapter → Properties → Sharing

Enable:

Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection

For the home/destination networking connection, select the virtual adapter being used by Windows Mobile Hotspot.

Depending on your Windows version, Wi-Fi hardware, and drivers, the hotspot adapter may appear with a name similar to:

• Local Area Connection* 1
• Local Area Connection* 2
• A Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct/virtual adapter

The exact adapter name and number can vary from computer to computer.

Connect your PlayStation or Xbox

1. Open the Wi-Fi/network settings on your PlayStation or Xbox.
2. Search for available wireless networks.
3. Select the hotspot name created on your computer.
4. Enter the hotspot password.
5. Use automatic/default network settings unless instructed otherwise.
6. Test the Internet connection.

Your connection should then follow:

Console → Windows Hotspot → Windows PC → FriendlyVPN → Internet

For traffic correctly routed through the shared VPN connection, Internet destinations will see the FriendlyVPN public-facing IP rather than the residential public IP used by the PC's underlying Internet connection.

This can also be useful when you have people over: compatible devices can connect to your Windows hotspot and use the VPN-routed connection without requiring a separate VPN application on every device.

For gaming, our recommended order is:

1. Ethernet/LAN sharing — Best choice
Usually provides the lowest latency and most stable connection between the console and computer.

2. Windows Mobile Hotspot — Convenient wireless alternative
Useful if you do not have an Ethernet cable or want several nearby devices to share the VPN connection.

Ethernet:
Console → PC → FriendlyVPN → Internet

Mobile Hotspot:
Console → Wi-Fi Hotspot → PC → FriendlyVPN → Internet

If you are unsure which adapter to select in Windows, FriendlyVPN support can help identify the correct WireGuard, OpenVPN, Ethernet, or Mobile Hotspot adapter.

Yes.

The Windows Mobile Hotspot sharing method is not limited to consoles. Compatible devices can connect to the hotspot just like they would connect to a normal Wi-Fi network.

This can include:

• PlayStation
• Xbox
• Phones
• Tablets
• Laptops
• Other compatible Wi-Fi devices

When the Windows hotspot is correctly sharing the active FriendlyVPN connection, supported traffic from connected devices can be routed outward through the FriendlyVPN public-facing IP.

This can be useful if you have people over and want them to use the VPN-routed Wi-Fi connection instead of directly using your residential public IP.

This depends on the FriendlyVPN plan or configuration you purchased.

Your VPN configuration should remain within the device and concurrent-connection limits associated with your service.

If you need VPN access for several people or additional devices, FriendlyVPN offers bundle and multi-user options.

No, unless your specific plan explicitly permits multiple users.

A personal FriendlyVPN configuration is issued to the customer who purchased it.

Do not publicly post, sell, redistribute or give your personal configuration to somebody else.

If several people require access, use an appropriate bundle or multi-user plan.

Not automatically.

FriendlyVPN protects traffic that is actually being routed through the VPN tunnel.

If only one computer is connected to FriendlyVPN, another device using your normal Internet connection is not automatically protected by that computer's VPN connection.

Devices deliberately connected through a correctly configured Ethernet-sharing or Windows Mobile Hotspot setup can use the computer's shared VPN-routed connection.

FriendlyVPN currently accepts:

• PayPal
• Credit/debit card payments through PayPal checkout

Where PayPal Guest Checkout is available, customers may be able to pay by card without creating a PayPal account.

FriendlyVPN has been operating since 2024 and has served more than 200 customers.

We use established payment infrastructure through PayPal instead of directly collecting customers' payment-card information.

Customer privacy is kept separate from personal disagreements, gaming disputes and relationships between customers.

FriendlyVPN does not sell customer information to other customers because somebody asks for it, claims to know the owner, or becomes involved in a dispute.

Our objective is to collect the information necessary to operate the service, protect the information we maintain, and keep customer information out of personal disputes.

FriendlyVPN maintains operational information necessary to provide, secure, troubleshoot and manage the VPN service.

This may include account/configuration information, bandwidth usage, connection-related operational information and security data necessary to maintain the network and investigate abuse.

We prefer being transparent about operational logging rather than advertising a misleading absolute "zero logs" claim.

Customers should refer to the current FriendlyVPN Privacy Policy for the exact information collected and applicable retention practices.

This depends on the FriendlyVPN service or plan you purchase.

Some infrastructure may use public addresses across multiple customers, while specialized or private services can be provisioned differently.

If having a dedicated public IP is important to you, confirm the appropriate option with FriendlyVPN before purchasing.

Potentially, yes.

Depending on the service configuration, multiple customers can appear on the Internet through the same public VPN infrastructure.

The VPN server maintains the connection state necessary to route traffic to the appropriate customer.

Sharing a public VPN address does not mean another customer automatically has access to your device, traffic or residential IP.

Yes.

FriendlyVPN can carry normal Internet traffic in addition to gaming traffic.

This can include web browsing, Discord, mobile applications and streaming traffic.

FriendlyVPN is primarily designed and optimized around gaming.

Access to a particular streaming service or regional catalogue cannot be guaranteed because streaming providers independently determine whether specific VPN addresses are allowed.

FriendlyVPN is primarily designed as a gaming VPN rather than a service intended for continuous bandwidth saturation.

Certain traffic can therefore be subject to bandwidth, packet-rate, connection or fair-use controls to prevent one customer from negatively affecting everyone else's gaming experience.

Our priority is keeping the network responsive for all customers.

FriendlyVPN configurations are provisioned after the order and payment have been verified.

Delivery time can vary depending on the product and whether manual provisioning is required.

Make sure the email or contact information associated with your order is correct so your configuration and setup information can be delivered successfully.

Your VPN access is provided for the subscription period associated with your purchase.

When a subscription expires without renewal, access associated with that subscription may stop working.

The FriendlyVPN application can display information such as your configuration name, bandwidth usage and expiration date to make this easier to track.

Refund eligibility depends on the circumstances and FriendlyVPN's current refund and terms policy.

A VPN service that has already been successfully provisioned and used is different from a service that was never delivered or could not be provided.

Customers should review the applicable terms before purchasing and contact FriendlyVPN if they believe there is a legitimate billing or service issue.

1. Check the FriendlyVPN server dashboard.
2. Verify that your normal Internet connection is working.
3. Disconnect and reconnect the VPN tunnel.
4. Try another supported protocol.
5. Try another available FriendlyVPN location.
6. Restart the VPN application or device.
7. Contact FriendlyVPN support if the problem continues.

If contacting support, include the server/location, VPN protocol, approximate time of the problem and what you were doing when it occurred.

No.

Advanced customers can take advantage of different protocols and networking options, but you do not need to understand advanced networking to use FriendlyVPN.

For most customers the process is simply:

Choose your server → connect your VPN → launch your game.

The FriendlyVPN Tunnel application is available to simplify configuration and show important account and connection information.