The gaming world has evolved over the years. From pinball and Atari, it has now advanced to virtual reality. Also, video gaming has gone online now. Gamers can stream their games, and their fans can watch it live. Players can compete against people across the globe.
With smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles such as Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, etc., gaming has become very popular among grownups and kids alike. There are now platforms such as Discord where gamers can meet and communicate.
Even though the video gaming evolution has undoubtedly offered a better gaming experience to people, it has led to a staggering growth in in-game crime. In-game crime, also known as virtual crime, happens in massively multiplayer online games, mostly in role-playing games.
Considering these threats, I did some research and weeded out the essential tips and tricks to secure your online experience. Here is how you can play video games safely:
Maintain anonymity
According to a study, more than half of individuals worry that bad actors will hack their private or financial data from their accounts. For playing online games, one often needs to create a profile, and this could be a gateway for data theft. User profiles are set to public. Therefore, one must avoid using gamer names which contain personal details. Do not use your real name, date of birth, or email address. Also, secure your online gaming accounts. Keep changing the passwords, and set a strong and unique one.
Stranger danger
Video games usually have a chatroom or a chat option which let users communicate with each other. According to a study, six out of ten children who play games, chat with other gamers. If you frequently talk with other online players, then you must know about the dangers associated with it, Avoid interacting with strangers, and do not give out personal information at any cost. Also, if anyone sends you a link or attachment over the game room IM, do not click on it, and do not download it.
Be wary of spam
Now, clicking on spammy links may lead to infections. While playing games on the internet, one must always be on the toes regarding attachments and links. To save money, online gamers usually install patches from third party websites. In fact, many other players offer packages to lure innocent gamers. Such patches can be laced with malicious code, and even contain ransomware. Therefore, always purchase and download any game related thing from a trusted party.
Secure the devices
Even though major gaming consoles are highly malware resistant, online computer and phone games are usually at a more significant risk to such cybersecurity infections. When playing online gamers, ensure that you have an up-to-date antivirus program along on your computer. Also, enable the firewall to get added protection.
Given the pace with which gaming popularity is surging, and the explosive growth of eSports, it does not seem like the online gaming bubble shall burst in a long while. As a matter of fact, there is an online game which spots youngsters who have hidden cybersecurity talents.
Nonetheless, as new games proceed to evolve and grow and cybercriminals become more and more creative in driving attacks to abuse them, it is more necessary than ever to make sure that you maintain your devices’ safety and guard yourself when playing on the internet.