<p><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5fecf36ba18a450018cb6527-2400/GettyImages-1219162007.jpg" border="0" alt="teen gaming online desktop computer headphones" data-mce-source="CasarsaGuru/Getty Images"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>Stream sniping is an opportunistic tactic in online gaming when a viewer exploits information by watching the livestream of someone they're playing against.</p><p>It's a simple trick, but stream sniping can result in an experience so frustrating that it can send a livestreamer into <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/deadmau5-suspended-twitch-homophobic-hate-speech-2019-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expletive-addled rages that get them banned from Twitch</a>.</p><h2>What to know about stream sniping</h2><p>Stream sniping is a sort of gaming "hack," except you don't need special hardware or years of coding expertise to perform it. All a stream sniper needs is a bit of luck since they can't guarantee they'll be in a game with someone who is livestreaming. </p><p>But once they've established that, the act of stream sniping is simple: They simply tune into the target's stream on another screen and wreak havoc in the game with their unfair, lopsided information advantage.</p><p>The advantage a stream sniper has is nothing to scoff atthat window into another player's gameplay can make a difference, and it's even a bannable offense when used in some instances, <a href="https://screenrant.com/twitch-suspends-xqc-fall-guys-stream-sniping/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">like one streamer did in Twitch's Rivals competition</a>.</p><h2>How to prevent and mitigate stream sniping</h2><p>Some games, like "Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War," have measures to try and prevent stream snipers from being in the same games as streamers in the first place by hiding information about game matchmaking.</p><p>Twitch, the most popular platform for livestreaming, has a broadcast delay feature for streamers to mitigate stream sniping. If a stream sniper ends up in a game with a streamer, they'll be watching the streamer's actions on a delay of several seconds, obfuscating the streamer's exact position in the game at any moment.</p><p>Streamers often try to grow an audience by featuring their username with the added "TTV" to indicate a Twitch profilebut they risk the dreaded stream sniper catching their attention as well.</p><p>Finally, big-time streamers often use pseudonyms so that they can't be identified as a streamer while in a game. The average person, however, may risk losing more of an audience by using a pseudonym. But that risk might be worth it if you're constantly battling stream snipers.</p><h2><strong>Related coverage from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-post-depth="100">Tech Reference</a>:</strong></h2><ul><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-find-twitch-stream-key" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-post-depth="100">How to find your Twitch stream key, which will let you start streaming games and access other features<br></a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-stream-on-xbox-one" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-post-depth="100">How to stream on your Xbox One using the Twitch app</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-twitch-prime" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-post-depth="100">What is Twitch Prime' The best features of Twitch's popular membership program, which comes bundled with Amazon Prime</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-twitch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What is Twitch' Here's what you need to know about the world's leading live-streaming platform for gamers</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-mod-someone-on-twitch" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-analytics-post-depth="100">How to 'mod' someone on Twitch, and appoint them as a moderator for your channel</a></h3></li></ul><p><strong>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-gaming-mouse'tht" >The best gaming mice you can buy</a></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-stream-sniping#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/economist-weighted-voting-could-help-save-us-democracy-2018-5">A top economist explains how weighted voting could change democracy</a></p>
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