Online gaming has become a popular pastime in recent years. According to Finance Online, there were 2.69 billion gamers globally in 2020, and this figure is expected to surpass 3 billion by 2023. Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), battle royale, and PlayerUnknown Battleground (PUBG) have become commonplace in the modern world of gaming. Unfortunately, there is enormous cybercrime potential with all those players online. Understanding the most prominent threats is the best way to be prepared for the worst while gaming online. We will discuss exactly how below.
Gaming Platform Flaws
There are many gaming platforms on PC, including Steam, EA-Play, and Xbox for PC, that all let you buy games online and play them with your friends. Unfortunately, you typically need to give up personal information to these services before you’re allowed to use them. In 2020, a massive attack on Steam allowed hackers to crash systems and take control of PCs in some circumstances. When using an online gaming platform, make sure you keep the software up to date with all the latest patches.
Ransomware and Malware
Malware and ransomware are often installed on users’ computers to carry out unwanted activity. In the gaming community, most victims are targeted on the back of promises for items, cheats, and hidden advantages that don’t exist. To avoid being targeted with ransomware and malware, you should check a website’s validity. Further, especially if you’re looking for a safe casino for real money, you should use the list of the verified sites on Gamble Online.
DDoS Attacks
Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are rising in popularity within the cybercrime community, and gamers are particularly vulnerable. During these attacks, hackers set up botnets that intercept internet connectivity. Then, these botnets overwhelm the victim’s server leaving no room for legitimate requests, which causes the system to behave incorrectly. The best way to solve this problem is to utilize a dedicated gaming server with high security.
Inventory/Character Theft
Avid gamers spend years mastering games and building up their item collection so that they can be the best. Now, imagine the devastation of having all your work stolen because you failed to take a couple of security steps. In-game thefts are often the subject of malware or phishing attacks. You can lower your chances of inventory/character theft taking place by setting up two-factor authentication and having a solid password at all times.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are exactly what they sound like – they fish for your data. One of the most common phishing scams within the gaming community is to trick players into entering credit card information. In these attacks, cybercriminals will create fake websites and emails that appear to be from legitimate sources. If you’re ever unsure of anything, you should check with the game provider.
Cyberattacks are commonplace in the gaming world, and their occurrence will only increase as technology advances. Online gamers need to think smart and take preventative measures to avoid complications.
This is a paid guest post.