It’s Saturday afternoon. You’ve done your chores for the day and decide to sit down and play a game or two. You enter your credentials, and BAM! – you can’t access the game. You go to the game’s website to try and mend the situation, only to find out your password has changed. But it wasn’t you who did that…
Personal information theft is evolving hand-in-hand with video games. And since scammers are getting smarter, it’s only fair that we keep ourselves updated.
Let’s talk about the most notorious threats a gamer can stumble upon, in-game and otherwise.
1. Phishing
Scammers can use false representation to attack your data, often using a seemingly unsuspicious link. Most of the time, it looks innocent enough – a discount coupon for a game, a security update, a password reset request – you name it.
Phishing scams masquerade as real websites, all to make you enter your credentials. The quickest way to avoid this is to type the game’s website URL manually and check for yourself.
Keep in mind that phishing has evolved past emails. It spread to VoIP, SMS, and even social network DMs. Always double-check the included link before clicking since it will probably look quite similar to the real deal.
2. Weak Passwords
Believe it or not, millions of people are using 123456 as their password.
There’s a reason why companies bother us with “your password is too weak, please make it longer/more complex” alerts.
Short and predictable passwords are easy to crack, long and unique passwords – not so much. If you want to stay safe, invest some time into creating a unique password, manually or by using a tool.
3. Massive Data Breaches
Hackers can also get your data indirectly – by getting into the database of big platforms, game developers, or even email platforms. They grab whatever they can, your personal data included.
These data attacks usually happen on a larger scale, so staying safe can be tough. To lower the risks, keep your passwords and software updated.
4. Malware and Spyware
Thanks to the advent of gaming clients, the chances of downloading malicious software are minuscule.
Yet, as soon as you get into modding or 3rd party gaming software, these chances become very real. Malware and spyware do various types of damage, the most common being personal and financial data theft.
The best way to prevent this is to, well, download only official software. But, if you decide to experiment with 3rd party programs, make sure to keep your OS and antivirus updated. Also, googling the software developer helps.
5. Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that can enter your system in all sorts of ways, most likely through 3rd party downloads and email. It uses encryption to lock you out of your files (games, photos, documents, etc.). Then, usually, the scammers demand ransom to unlock the data.
The best way to protect yourself from this type of security threat is – all of the above. Create strong passwords, update your OS regularly, and double-check the links before you click. Also, create backups of important files (on a different device, of course).
An Ounce Of Prevention Is Worth A Pound Of Cure
Internet security threats are becoming more and more intricate by the day. The only way gamers can stay safe from security threats is by staying vigilant!
Play it safe, gamers!
