An Emerging Hacker Surface
The world of online gaming has evolved over the years from simple arcade games to massive multiplayer games such as Fortnite, Call of Duty, FIFA 17, PUBG, Metal Gear Solid, and GT Sport.
As one of the fastest growing industries, online gaming has attracted a lot of people who have invested their time and money (real or virtual), making it a popular and competitive industry and a target for malicious hackers.
Amid the entertainment, thrills, and level-ups of online gaming lurks the danger of cybercrime, with cybercriminals posing as gamers looking to steal valuable data and in-game assets.
Valuable data sets, including personal identifiable information and credit card information of gamers from all over the world, can be targeted by hackers who may gain access to the computers of trusting players.
Major Cybersecurity Threats in Online Gaming
Our research indicates that online transactions involving credit or debit card usage are usually a major breeding ground for malicious attackers.
Beyond banking information, online gamers have been victims of video game cheating, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, and malware attacks. Here’s a look at the major cybersecurity threats that online gamers face based on our observations:
Account Takeover
Cybercriminals are always looking for vulnerabilities in servers and platforms to gain access to user accounts. They may employ phishing attacks and malware to gain access to gaming accounts.
Once they have infiltrated them, they can steal valuable in-game items, make unauthorized purchases, and, in worst-case scenarios, sell the account on the black market.
Phishing Attacks
These often arrive as deceptive messages or emails posing as legitimate gaming companies or platforms that trick gamers into revealing their login credentials or credit card passwords and PINs.
They may appear as links in the players’ chatrooms. Clicking them leads to the installation of malware on their devices.
Malware Attacks
Based on our own experience, malicious software can be disguised as cheats, mods, or game updates. Once a player downloads the malware, it can spy on them, steal their data, or even spread itself across their entire gaming system.
DDoS Attacks
The main aim of these attacks is to disrupt gameplay, making gamers lose valuable points and fall behind on the leaderboard. Cybercriminals use these attacks to overwhelm gaming servers with traffic and disconnect players from online gaming services.
Our analysis of these attacks shows that the main motivation is to damage a platform’s reputation, which consequently leads to a decline in in-app purchases.
In other cases, we observed that these attacks may arise from frustrated competitors on vendetta missions.
Video Game Cheating
Online cheating usually involves exploiting flaws in game development. These can range from memory tampering, code tampering, bot usage, or the use of computer assistance with software like the Stockfish engine in chess to gain an unfair advantage in multiplayer games.
Essential Cybersecurity Practices for Online Gamers: What to Do
By implementing these cybersecurity best practices, online players can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks:
Use Secure Payment Gateways
Utilize reputable payment gateways that encrypt sensitive card data during transmission. These gateways act as secure intermediaries between the website and the customer’s bank. Secure intermediaries minimize the risk of data breaches on the servers on both sides of the transaction.
In our experience, partnering with a trusted payment gateway provider significantly reduces the attack surface for fraudsters.
Shop at Reputable Sites
Only at websites that are trusted, reputable, and offer secure services like Askboosters Look for established businesses with a positive reputation for online security and impressive customer support services.
Avoid businesses with a history of online credit card fraud or compromised online security.
Set Up Strong Passwords
Online gamers should avoid using weak and short passwords such as their date of birth, car number plate, or house number. In our practical experience, it takes a hacker less than a minute to hack into a weak password and take control of an account.
Gamers should prioritize setting up complex, unique, long passwords to prevent unauthorized entry and lock out any potential intruders. Strong passwords should be at least 8 characters long with a combination of numbers, letters, and special characters.
Use 2-factor Authentication (2FA)
On top of complex passwords, gamers should enable 2FA, also known as multi-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification code such as a one-time PIN when logging in.
Download with Caution
Online gamers should avoid downloading suspicious files from third-party websites or forums. Only download game updates, files, mods, or fixes from official and trusted sources.
Beware of Phishing
Be cautious of any messages, emails, or links claiming to be from gaming companies or platforms. Verify their legitimacy by directly contacting the company and checking their official website.
No legitimate company will ask for personal or banking card details, such as a gamer’s PIN. Gamers should also avoid sharing personal information in in-game chats or on online forums.
Protect Your Network
Gamers should set a strong password for their Wi-Fi network. They should also avoid using public Wi-Fi for online gaming whenever possible. One can also consider using a VPN for an added layer of security.
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Be Wary of Cybercrime and Play Safe
The gut punch of losing hard-earned loot, rare in-game items, and potentially even real money through cybercrime is a harsh reality that many online gamers know all too well.
Fortunately, the security tips we have provided can go a long way in ensuring accounts and networks are protected and safe from malicious attackers.
A little caution is important in minimizing the risk of phishing attacks and malicious software attacks and achieving the ultimate safe mode of gaming and entertainment. Stay vigilant and play safe!
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