As a gamer, cybersecurity probably isn’t near the top of your concerns during an exciting playing session. Yet, gaming companies are among the most targeted by the cybercriminal underworld, leaking thousands of sensitive records about players. This article will explain why you must pay attention to this and how to protect yourself.
The Importance of Cybersecurity for Gamers
Modern games are all digital. Before you can even download them, you have to provide a ton of sensitive information. To create an account, you must give your email and a password. Then, you share your financial information to buy the game and even save it on the gaming platform’s systems. On top of that, you may use several devices to access your games. Console, PC, and even mobile games are all incredibly popular.
What does all of this have to do with cybersecurity? Combining these factors above makes the gaming industry the perfect target for cybercriminals. There’s an infinite pool of people and devices to exploit and a goldmine of data stored across many gaming companies’ data servers.
Cyber gangs and even individual hackers are constantly searching for ways to penetrate these accounts and systems and steal sensitive data, which they can later use for things like identity theft or financial fraud.
Recently, two major gaming studios were hit by a cyber attack, highlighting the need for increased security awareness among gamers.
Best Practices for a Secure Gaming Experience
1. Use a password manager
Setting different complex passwords to protect your accounts is essential yet challenging to remember. That’s why you should consider using a password manager to help you store your password in a single vault where only you can access it. While apps are convenient, you can get a password manager on Chrome or other browsers as an extention, too.
2. Never share personal details over game chat
Cybercriminals love using social engineering to obtain sensitive information. In gaming, this could manifest in malicious actors trying to extract this information from you by posing as a friend or orchestrating a scam. While making friends is a great benefit of online gaming, you should generally be very cautious about exposing details about yourself, especially to people you have just met.
3. Utilize VPN Protect Against Cyber Threats
Perhaps the most essential tool in your fight against cybercrime is a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN encrypts your internet connection, making it difficult for anyone to intercept or decipher your data. Additionally, a VPN masks your IP address, making it harder for malicious parties to track your location or launch targeted attacks.
An added benefit of VPNs is that they allow you to access geo-restricted content, including video games. So, a VPN may be your only option if you’re trying to play PUBG from India. However, check the VPN comparison table to see the speed properties different providers has on offer.
4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on your accounts
Data leaks happen constantly, exposing millions of people’s credentials across various accounts, including gaming. If your credentials are exposed, you need extra forms of protection to safeguard your accounts. This comes in the form of two-factor authentication (2FA). Enable 2FA for all accounts to ensure that even if your password is compromised, unauthorized access is still blocked.
Final Thoughts
From the infamous attack on Rockstar Games that exposed hours of unreleased GTA VI footage to the more recent attacks on famous studios like Ubisoft, it’s clear that gaming is the new frontier for cybercriminals.
But while these large companies can typically recover from such setbacks, the average gamer may not. Leaked sensitive information can lead to serious crimes, including significant financial loss and identity theft. Gamers must remain mindful of the different threats and protect their accounts to the best of their ability.