Writing “EZ” right before you win in a tough match of a multiplayer game is a priceless feeling. There’s nothing like it except a Call of Duty lobby when you’re arguing with a bunch of people you’re meeting for the first time.
Games are incredibly fun, but they can also be problematic if you don’t know how to protect yourself. Cyberbullying, doxing, viruses, phishing attacks, and even identity theft can be sitting behind the screen of your favorite game. Even worse, those same risks could be happening to kids, but they’re unaware they exist. Here’s how to protect yourself and your kids from gaming risks.
Malware
Maybe you’re feeling nostalgic about the old classics like Age of Empires II, GTA: San Andreas, or even perhaps Counter-Strike 1.6, and you want to play them cracked or with all cheat codes enabled. Maybe you want to get them for free from a shady website to show how games used to look like to your kids. But doing so might install malware along with the game.
The internet isn’t like it was two decades ago. Many bad actors are looking for unsuspecting victims to place a virus and steal your personal information. Even downloading a game legally but purchasing items from third-party sellers from an unknown website can put you at risk.
Doxing or swatting
If you’ve watched a lot of streamers on Twitch, then you’ve probably seen an example of swatting. Someone who knows your address can send a SWAT team to your house by reporting a fake emergency. This trend happened randomly as a prank, but now it’s evolved into an attempt to intimidate influencers by real criminals.
The next thing here is doxing. When gaming, people use gamer tags that are completely different from their real names. That’s a great way to remain anonymous and avoid leaking sensitive information. But sometimes, hackers can decide to share your personal details online purposefully. Sometimes, you can slip up while gaming and say who you really are and where you live. One mistake can disrupt your life. Of course, that depends if you’re a streamer, your popularity level, and even your actions inside games.
Cyberbullying
Because kids tend to spend more time online than offline, cyberbullying is more prevalent than real bullying. Gamers often experience abuse or teasing from other players. You never know who’s on the other side of the screen, and being anonymous gives more power to those who want to spread hate speech.
Sometimes, cyberbullies tend to manipulate and gaslight victims into doxing themselves and then use that information against them. In this case, the best thing to do is not let it get to you or block the person trying to be mean.
Hackers
Sometimes, the games don’t have enough protection and can expose your email and password to the rest of the world. Zynga is one of the biggest game developer studios, and they suffered a breach of over 170 million accounts. To avoid this from happening, have a fake email that you only use for gaming.
How to fight gaming security risks?
The first thing you need to do is change your password. Chances are that you’ve been using the same password for the past couple of years, and it’s probably outdated and weak at this point. Next comes multi-factor authentication. You don’t want your account to get stolen and all of your hard work to go to waste. Two-factor authentication takes a few extra seconds and can save you the thousands of hours of effort that you’ve put into your gaming accounts.
A gaming VPN is easy to install and will save you from almost all the dangers you could experience online. It hides your actual IP address, making it impossible for hackers to dox your identity. It protects you from DDoS attacks and gives you more security when completing in-game purchases. You won’t have to worry about your bank details leaking to the rest of the net.
Many gamers are concerned that their ping will skyrocket if they use a VPN, but that’s a myth that has been busted. A few years ago, that used to be the case because there weren’t enough servers around the globe. Now, it’s no longer the case.
Finally, remember to always protect your personal information. The weakest link in terms of cybersecurity is always human error. If you randomly say your real name and give away your social media accounts, then no amount of protection can save you. Be mindful of what you’re saying when your gaming gear is on.
