How to Use a VPN to Use MLB.tv on Your Computer

With baseball season now in full swing, the only thing people want to do more than watch their favorite team play is stream their matches online. But with the growing number of streaming services out there, how do you know which one to subscribe to? What features should you look for?

One of the best things about baseball is that it is a game that can be enjoyed by all, regardless of whether you follow the sport or not. The same cannot be said for many other professional sports. For instance, if you live in Canada, you might find that the only hockey you can watch on TV is on the CBC, which is the network that broadcasts the Toronto Maple Leafs. So if you want to watch Toronto play, you’ll have to turn to YouTube or whatever other digital platforms their games may appear on.

Why Use A VPN For Streams?

So what is a VPN, and why should you use it to stream baseball games? A VPN, or virtual private network, is a network that creates a secure encrypted tunnel between your computer and the remote servers of a particular, trusted company, such as Amazon, which in this case is owned by Jeff Bezos. The idea behind a VPN is to create a secure connection that is completely anonymous and that prevents the services you use from viewing your IP address and tracking your online activity. In other words, a VPN lets you appear to be anywhere you want to appear, while still being able to access the content you want to access, when you want to access it.

By default, all web browsers that are set to accept incoming connections from any website automatically connect to the open, public WiFi network at hotels and airports. Your IP address is therefore visible to anyone who wants to look up your information, potentially letting your internet service provider (ISP) track your activity. Using a VPN to connect to a hotel WiFi network is therefore the simplest and most convenient way to ensure your anonymity when streaming.

Is It Safe To Stream On A Public WiFi Network?

Let’s get one thing clear beforehand: it is never safe to stream on a public WiFi network. No matter where you connect, someone could still eavesdrop on your data, or worse, watch and record your activity. That is why you should never use a public WiFi network to stream, whether it is baseball, football, or any other sport you might enjoy watching online. Even when you are not on a public WiFi network, you should use a VPN to prevent any of your activity from being tracked by online predators or security risks.

How Do I Use A VPN To Stream?

If you are using a macOS or Linux computer, the process of connecting to a VPN is usually quite simple. You will want to choose your VPN, enter your login credentials (if required), and then click to connect. Once you are connected, you can use the VPN to browse the web or stream content as you see fit. To stream content from an Amazon Prime Video account, for example, you will simply need to search for the content you want to watch and then hit play.

In comparison, connecting to a VPN on a Windows 10 computer is more complicated because Windows block all incoming connections by default and require you to specifically allow connections from specific protocols, such as the VPN you wish to use. You can find instructions on how to do this on Microsoft’s website, so that you can use the VPN you have configured on your computer. 

Do I Need To Configure My Computer For VPNs?

If you are asking yourself, do I need to configure my computer for VPNs, the answer is no. All modern browsers and operating systems are configured to automatically connect to the VPN you select when you click to connect, so you do not need to make any additional configuration. But if you are connecting to a VPN for the first time, or if you are not sure how to connect, you can follow the instructions on the remote server’s site to connect manually. This is generally not necessary, however, as most VPNs these days are very easy to use and only require a few touch-based clicks to connect.

What Is The Advantages Of Using A VPN To Stream?

There are several advantages to using a VPN while streaming, whether it is baseball, hockey, or any other sport. First, and most obviously, is the security and privacy that VPNs provide. By connecting to the VPN, you are protecting your data as it travels to and from your computer and the services you use while online. You are also preventing your ISP from viewing your activity, as well as anyone else who might want to look up your ip address. With the public WiFi network at hotels and airports potentially exposing your data, using a VPN is the simplest and most convenient way to keep your personal information secure and private when streaming.

In addition, many VPNs have a kill switch, which prevents your internet connection from being dropped if you are connected to a WiFi network that goes down. This is particularly beneficial if you are using a public WiFi network at an airport or hotel, as there will always be the possibility that the network could be shut down at any time by hotel or airport staff. If this happens while you are trying to stream a game, you will lose access to your content and will have to start all over again, as there is no way for you to find out where you were connected to before the outage. Having a kill switch is therefore essential if you are going to use a VPN to stream, as you never know what could happen if you are traveling or at a hotel where the WiFi network is unstable or unavailable. (I should point out that not all VPNs come with a kill switch, so make sure to check this before purchasing one.)

Disadvantages Of Using A VPN To Stream

While there are several advantages to using a VPN to stream, there are also some disadvantages worth mentioning. One of the major disadvantages is that many VPNs are not designed to be used for streaming, and as a result, can slow down your internet connection. In addition, not all VPNs allow all streaming protocols, so make sure to check with the provider’s website to see if their service is compatible with the platforms you use to stream. (In the example above, we are using the VPN service from Amazon, and as you might expect, their service does not support any streaming protocols aside from Amazon Prime Video, which is a proprietary protocol that only the service and the company’s VPN clients support. If you try to use other protocols like HOOQ, you will see errors when you try to play videos because the service does not support the protocols employed by those apps.)

Another disadvantage is that although most VPNs are set up to be completely secure and private, that does not mean they are without flaws. While it is unlikely that a major security concern will be found with any particular VPN, it is worth having some basic safety measures in place. One thing you can do is use an anonymous VPN to mask your identity while watching content. This will stop all incoming connections from being recorded and your personal information from being shared with third parties, allowing you to use the service without fear or apprehension.

Conclusion

Overall, using a VPN to stream is a viable alternative to using public WiFi networks to do the same. Not only does it provide greater security and privacy (aside from the obvious reason why you would want to do this), but it is often faster as well. It also takes less effort to set up and use than some of the alternative methods I have discussed, such as using a dedicated hardware VPN client or installing a VPN extension in your browser.

If you are looking to purchase a VPN to stream content with, be sure to compare the features and benefits offered by various companies and choose one that meets the needs of your specific situation. In the end, nothing is perfect, and in life, as in baseball, you always have to make the best of what you have. So if you cannot have perfect security and privacy, the next best thing is to use something that gets the job done. For best results, use a combination of two or three of the methods discussed above.