Over time online gaming has steadily grown to become one of the most successful entertainment industries in the world. Thanks to advancements in computers, mobile technology, as well as the internet, online gaming has sky-rocketed in popularity, bringing more and more people together to share in the fun. This, however, has also called for an ever-increasing need for online security and general awareness of the risks that come with it.
The Common Everyday Threats In Online Gaming
As most of us already know, using the internet has its certain risks. Online gaming shares many of these same risks, and a few that are unique. These include:
- Malware infection – viruses and malicious software can be used to steal data, or in worst case scenarios, destroy computer systems or hold them for ransom.
- Account hacking – breaking into an online account for the purpose of gathering information or fraudulent use.
- Swatting &doxing – irresponsible trends that are common within gaming community. Swatting is the act of calling police on a person as prank. Doxing is the act of sharing a person’s information online, often leading to harassment. Both are considered crimes and are potentially punishable by law.
- Cyberbullying – any sort of ongoing harassment or bullying done over the online platform.
- Online predators and scammers – due to generally anonymous nature of the online platform, online predators and people looking to ensnare the unwary in some sort of scam, should always be a matter of concern.
- Active listening – with live-streaming becoming so popular in online gaming, a trend has arisen where streamers often forget to turn off their microphone and feed during breaks or when not in use. Strangers can then spy on them and gather personal information without them knowing.
Steps On How To Protect Yourself
- Keep your malware protection up to date.
- Always use strong and unique passwords for all your accounts. Use two-step verification for even greater security from hackers.
- Treat all third-party add-ons, mods, patches, or game content, as suspicious unless they come from a reputable source.
- Avoid suspicious links in chatrooms and forums.
- Avoid sharing your personal details online whenever possible and try not to use your real name and surname as your gamer tag.
- If you’re a streamer, turn off your microphone when not in use, and make sure you don’t have anything in view of the camera that can be used to identify your family or location.
Be Diligent
If you keep up with all the above steps, for the most part you will be reasonably safe and can enjoy gaming at an online casino South Africa site without worry. This requires a certain amount of diligence though.
If you are a parent, it’s well worth considering using parental controls, or at the very least educating your kids about the risks. Otherwise, online threats are not going to go away any time soon. If you stay updated, don’t trust strangers, and keep the rest of the above steps in mind though, you should be fine.