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Cybersecurity and Gaming
The video game industry is soaring, not in the least thanks to the lockdowns, which forced people to look for new ways to entertain themselves and socialize. Even with things going back to normal, gaming is expected to have a very bright future.
Online gaming has become the way of entertainment for many people being evidenced with increasing adoption of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) by game developers.
However, many online issues in gaming have emerged over time, stirring much attention amongst game developers – reliable connectivity is crucial for a decent gaming experience, however; the gaming community is not immune to cybersecurity threats.
Vast amounts of sensitive information, both personal and financial is linked to online gaming accounts. It makes an enticing target for cybercriminals, users need to be aware. While it is the responsibility of the Gaming industry to protect this info and ensure that their platforms are safe, gamers need to learn to recognize basic risks and threat elements then take the necessary precautions to safeguard themselves from an cyber-attack.
All data breaches are messy and gaming is no exception.
Common security threats to online gamers include phishing through free games that curiously still want your financial info. Twitch and Discord which are common platforms used to prey on gamers using fake accounts seeking credentials and/or credit card details, sometime
under the guise of free game downloads, giveaways and bargains. Here, there is a moderate risk of downloading adware and spyware onto your device – which can open up persons for a slew of attacks, data loss and breaches.
Phishing pages can also duplicate popular tournaments and even mention sponsor brands to make it more convincing – generally resulting in logins and passwords being stolen as well. Trojans and viruses are also known to plague many game download sites which increases risk of cyber-attacks and can compromise your devices and home network. Ransomware risks on home or work computer system can also put users in a vulnerable position where sensitive data is concerned.
In online games, hacking is also a very common issue, popular attacks include trojans that grant unwanted access and stealing of data; also, miners that stay on devices undetected for long periods but are actually accessing files and running in the background mining for useful data whilst using precious system resources. Trojans and miners can also record keystrokes, passwords, grant remote user access, exploit vulnerabilities and other such nefarious acts on your systems. E.g. One such miner mimicked the installation file of the popular online battle-royale game PUBG.
Hackers have mastered the art of accessing free public Wi-Fi to extract users’ sensitive information while conducting online payments, this can occur while the user is making in-game purchases, or logging into personal accounts.
Protecting the turf with Cybersecurity controls
In a world where cybercriminals are getting bolder, users must educate themselves and make the most secure choices even whilst relaxing through gaming.
First and foremost, ensuring legitimate game sites are used, since the gaming industry is required to comply with the global Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) that requires that gamers’ credit card details are kept secure. Double-check the URL of the website and make sure it is authentic.
When setting up your gaming accounts, enabling multi factor authentication (MFA) can help protect against identity theft. Beware of phishing campaigns and unfamiliar gamers. Do not open links received by email or in a game chat unless you trust the sender. Do not open files you get from strangers.
When using a mobile phone to conduct personal tasks like accessing a bank account, avoid using public Wi-Fi and use your phone provider’s network to connect to the internet as the cellular network is encrypted.
Additionally, following basic password security hygiene is beneficial. Users should create unique passwords for all online gaming accounts. Gamers are encouraged to utilize Antivirus software and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to help guard against digital as well as human (bad actor) threats. These measure also need to be kept up-to-date in order to give maximum protection to the user; as new threats are coming out every day. VPNs are especially useful to obscure your identity, location, etc. and puts a protective wall between you and cyber attackers.
Lastly, always remember to remove your data and information from a device before it is sold, given to a friend or family member, or donated. These systems will contain a trove of sensitive and valuable information so wiping them is critical. A factory reset or a data destruction program can help to delete personal and sensitive info from these devices.
DAB Global Technologies is available to work with gaming clients to build and strengthen cybersecurity. With our vast experience in various verticals that have higher risk potential and our best-in-class security offerings, we can partner to provide higher cybersecurity assurance to gamers and gaming companies.
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DAB is a global leader in cybersecurity services and technologies.