Have you ever considered how safe you are as a gamer? It’s likely not your first thought when you log in to play, but gaming, like anything else online, comes with its own risks to your game and your personal safety. There are multiple ways you can be hacked, have your identity exposed, or have your identity stolen when playing online or multiplayer games.
The frequency of cyber-attacks on gamers, particularly young gamers, is a growing concern.
According to The Hindu, between July 2022 and July 2023, over 4 million attacks were launched, with over 30,000 targeting mods and popular games. This alarming trend underscores the importance of understanding how to protect yourself and your gaming accounts.
Be Careful with Mods
Mods can drastically enhance your gaming experience. Everyone knows this, and if the mod does not infringe on the games copyright, then it’s legal. However, not all sources are legit, and if you’re not verifying the supplier’s authenticity, you can be opening yourself up to the risk of losing the game you have built, your account, or both. So whether you’re looking for Forza Horizon 5 Mods or want new Sims mods, always make sure you purchase from a reliable and trusted supplier who can help you get what you need, risking everything you have built so far.
Use A VPN
A VPN is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance your online security. By hiding your IP address and providing an extra layer of anonymity, it prevents others from tracking or identifying you. This is particularly crucial when using unsecured networks for gaming or engaging in chat rooms. Whether you’re a parent looking to protect your child or a gamer wanting to safeguard your privacy, a VPN is a must-have for added security and peace of mind.
Strong Passwords
It doesn’t matter what game you play or what accounts you hold. Every single one is at risk of being hacked, and relying solely on the operator to provide protection isn’t going to go down well for you. You need strong, unique passwords for all your accounts, and you need to ensure no one else has access to them. A strong, unique password is one that is not easily guessable and is different from your other passwords. Let’s say you have a Playstation gamer account; this password needs to be completely different from that of, say, your EA games account. So if one gets breached or hackers try to guess passwords, you’re making it more difficult. Passwords, at a minimum, need to be 12 characters, ideally 16, and contain both upper and lowercase letters, with numbers and symbols included.
Don’t Use PII
PII is personally identifiable information, which is those small details that can pinpoint who you are or give hackers a bit of a head start in gaining the information they want. Do not use anything like this in any of your account names or passwords or even share anything. This means having anonymous usernames that are completely random and not sharing details with other players, no matter how confident you are that they are genuine, and avoiding using PI in passwords, too. Examples of PII include your full name, address, phone number, or social security number. The less people know, the harder it is to hack you.