As the number of people connected to the internet rises, the number of cybersecurity threats also rises. Most of the time, this isn’t something that you need to worry about. However, if you run an online gaming platform, then yes, you do need to be concerned. Gaming platforms need to work overtime to keep security issues at bay. However, you can beat most cybersecurity threats with a little bit of common sense and some basic know-how.
Choose the right platforms
The most important decision you can make when gaming online is where you choose to game. Now, if you’re gaming on one of the major platforms that you know is reputable, then you should be fine. The chances of Steam servers having a security vulnerability that can impact you are insanely low. However, if your gaming is taking the form of gambling, then you need to be a bit more careful.
The gambling industry is rife with websites that have been known to scam people. This makes it especially important to do your research before signing up or depositing any money. As a result, you must choose a place that has been properly vetted. BetKiwi, for instance, will guide you through the best online gambling platforms in New Zealand.
Make sure any website is secure
If you are gaming on a website and need to make payments online, then you should check that the platform is secure by looking at the URL. If you don’t see https:// – note the s, then run away. That platform isn’t secure.
Don’t share personal details online
If you need to share details with a website to make a purchase or register, that is fine, provided the address starts with https://. However, if somebody randomly asks you for your name, username, or even password, don’t give it to them. You would think this would be obvious, but you’d be surprised at the number of people that will do that.
Don’t click random links you’ve been sent
Sent a random link? Don’t click it. It could be a phishing attempt. In certain games that have a chat feature, people might send out random links. They hope that if they can catch somebody in their net, they’ll be able to scam them. If you do accidentally click a link, run a scan on your computer.
Check the sender of any emails received
If you receive an email from the platform where you game, you need to be aware that servers can be hacked and contact details can be stolen. You need to be 100% sure who the sender of the email is.
No legitimate email will ever ask for your password. If there is a link included in the email, type it into the address bar of your web browser yourself. Don’t click the link as sometimes scam links can be disguised as legitimate ones.
We don’t want to scare you, since the risk of there being a dodgy email from a gaming company is quite low; however, it is better to be safe than sorry. We are all about cutting down the number of threats to your account after all.
Scan your computer regularly for threats
You should have both a malware scanner and a virus scanner on your computer. Make sure that you use them both frequently. They’ll help you to ensure you don’t have:
- Any keyloggers on your computer that could be keeping a record of everything that you type, including passwords
- Any software that might be recording your screen (although this is highly unlikely)
- Any software that might be serving you up random ads
- Software that can snoop on the files on your computer
This doesn’t include all the problems that malware or viruses can cause. Scanning everything regularly is essential to keeping your computer in fantastic health.
It is important that any scanner that you use be high quality and regularly updated. New threats are appearing all the time, and you want to catch them quickly.
It is worth noting that while we do think that you need to scan your computer regularly, as long as you are not opening weird attachments in your email, accessing strange websites, or clicking random links, you should be fine.
Avoid using public Wi-Fi where possible
We are not saying that you should rule out public Wi-Fi. We understand there is a need to connect to it on occasion. However, under no circumstances should you share personal information through public Wi-Fi. This includes payment information linked to any online games you may enjoy playing. Public Wi-Fi tends to be quite insecure, and there will often be people snooping on things shared over the network. Even having a firewall on your computer won’t help.
Final thoughts
Much of protecting yourself from cybersecurity threats while gaming involves common sense. This means not clicking random links and not sharing personal information. It is easy to ensure that you remain properly protected while gaming online. Don’t forget to scan your computer regularly for any malware or virus threats, and you should be safe while gaming.
