Gaming is one of the most loved activities worldwide. We all have played video games at some point in our life generally in our teenage. With the advancement in technology, our experience with video games has gone to another level. If we compare today’s games with the ones that were played 10 years back we can feel the difference.
With the internet came the online gaming dimension. You would agree it is the most addictive thing. This is because you can compete with real life players online. Most of the teenage students play video games online for hours. However, the internet or the online world has always been exposed to security risks like malware, viruses, attacks, etc. so let’s talk about these security risks in online gaming.
Phishing
Phishing is a scamming technique where some unsocial elements create a look-alike of a webpage to get your security information like password, credit card details, bank account details, social media passwords, etc. Most of the gaming sites are easy to hack for professional hackers and from these sites, they get thousands of email addresses of users who play games from that website. So now you can be easily exploited via an email from your favorite gaming site. The email from the hackers will ask you to log in again and by doing so they will get your login information.
Malware and Viruses
Many online games require you to download add-ons and other files which are necessary for the game. But the problem arises when malware and viruses are injected into your system with these files. Once you have downloaded these files, your system may get hacked by the hackers and all your information will be at risk. The hacker can exploit you to an unimaginable point depending on the severity of viruses and malware. To save your systems from such attacks, use a good antivirus and malware protection. Also, check the add-on and related files for unwanted files before downloading.
The attack on your bank account
Many online games charge money for their servers and for that transaction you have to use your credit card or other bank details. But remember that not all the websites are safe. You must ensure your safety first by checking the authenticity of the website. Such websites are the love of hackers. They have a keen eye on such websites that take your bank details. To avoid such circumstances you must check for the authenticity of the website.
Fake Transactions
Fake transactions are another case of sensitivity. Man in the middle attack is very common in such instances. When you think that the site is authentic and you decide to make a payment it may happen that you transferred the money to a different account. To ensure your safety in such cases, check for a green padlock sign on the top of your browser before making a transaction. That green sign is for authenticity and security purposes. If the padlock sign is red, you should immediately leave that website as it is unsecured and may contain viruses and malware.
How To Maximize Online Gaming Security?
So far we have talked about various attacks that can harm your computer and bank account. Now we should talk about steps that will ensure maximum online security.
Use antivirus and anti-spyware programs on your system. Such programs will protect your system against viruses and malware even if you have downloaded them. A strong antivirus will notify you whenever it finds a virus in your system and will help you in removing them.
Never download a file from an unauthentic or unfamiliar e-mail address. These files may cause harm to your data and you must avoid downloading them.
Avoid downloading games and software from a new website. If it is necessary and important then first check for its authenticity by checking users review and other things.
Never share your personal information over the web. You never know who is sitting on the opposite side. So it is better to avoid sharing personal information on the internet. Especially when you are login to live c@$ino sites.
Always make strong passwords. Passwords with only alphabets are very easy to hack. To ensure maximum online safety, your password must have at least one character, one numerical, small case alphabets and large case alphabets. Such types of passwords are very hard to crack for hackers.
Set time limits for children and use parental control.
