Everywhere you go today, you’ll definitely hear something concerning cybersecurity. Cybersecurity this, cybersecurity that. Basically, cybersecurity is becoming a household word, and all for a good reason.
You see, nowadays, malicious actors are really becoming sophisticated even as technology evolves. For instance, 2022 recorded an estimated 5.4 billion malware attacks globally. Actually, a previous study showed that for every 39 seconds on average, there is one hacker attack. This is just crazy!
One of the most targeted areas by hackers is the gaming industry. In fact, Infosecurity Magazine reports a 94% increase in layer 7 DDoS attacks within the last year. Basically, this just calls for all gamers, and especially online gamers, to always have their radars high.
Well, as you look for new games online, for instance after you the gaming portal gamer.org, you need to make sure that you are keeping safe. No wonder we have written this article so that you can always ensure you are secure. Your security is paramount!
If you surf the internet, you’ve definitely heard about two-step verification or multi-factor authentication (MFA). Well, this is just an added security measure that effectively protects accounts and data from unauthorised access. In fact, MFA alerts you when someone is trying to log into your account or trying to use your login details.
Ensure that you have prioritised the accounts that have your payment information saved or are of high value. For example, the accounts that have big game libraries. A pro tip would be to use an authenticator app where possible instead of using SMS or email verification. But if not possible, then use whatever option that is available. That is still way better than not having an MFA.
Now, if you do not know how to activate the MFA of whatever account you are using, there are many resources online that give you clear directions on how to do that. You can also check the settings for your account. So, never blame ignorance when you find yourself in a hot mess.
When using a VPN, then you are sure that your internet traffic is encrypted and that your connection and privacy are secure. However, there are some people who think that VPNs will slow their gameplay, and that’s where they go wrong.
Look at it this way. A good-quality VPN with modern security protocols should not in any way interfere with your internet speed, especially not negatively. In fact, there are countless VPNs that have been specially curated for gamers.
Now, the last thing you should do as an online live gamer is underestimate the worth of a VPN. You see, whenever you are playing via the internet, malicious actors might be able to see your IP address. This reveals your location. However, a VPN hides your location and because of that, no other person can be able to track you through your location.
Here are some of the popular VPNs that are suitable for gamers:
Probably no one has told you this, but playing on an outdated software is more harmful than you might think. You see, hackers are always evolving to get the loopholes in a software.
However, software developers are always coming up with security patches that fix known vulnerabilities and send them as updates. So, it is important that you keep your gaming software up to date lest you become the target of malicious actors who aim to exploit the vulnerabilities.
One mistake that we’ve seen with players is saving their payment details on their accounts since they don’t want to keep inputting every time they want to make a purchase. Gamers are always saving their credit card numbers or PayPal information. However, the main problem with this is that if someone gets access to your account, they could easily make purchases for other accounts with your money.
However, if you really have to save your payment details, then you can consider the following precautions:
If you follow these, then you can be sure that the potential costs will be drastically reduced if your account gets compromised.
This is perhaps the most common security tip out there. If you are an avid gamer with a number of accounts out there, it is vital that you don’t reuse your passwords. For example, if you have a Nintendo account and an EA one, then you should have strong and unique passwords for each. This will ensure that hackers cannot easily get to your personal information.
But what constitutes a strong password? You may ask. A strong password will have at least 16 characters consisting of both uppercase and lowercase letters, special characters and numbers. You can also use a password generator for more random passwords.
Your security is really vital when playing online. If you do not want to lose your account or fall under the spell of malicious players, then ensure that you are following our prescribed tips.
Internet Writer
Subscribe to our newsletter and get top Tech, Gaming & Streaming latest news, updates and amazing offers delivered directly in your inbox.
