Using Cybersecurity Measures to Play It Safe in the Gaming World

• With online games becoming a popular source of entertainment, hackers are finding potential in hacking them.
• Both gamers and the gaming industry must actively take steps to keep the threats at bay.

The current scenario

The gaming industry is a lucrative target for attackers. This is because most gaming companies tend to use low-friction authentication to promote usability.

• Another possible reason is that gamers don’t use secure passwords as they view breached gaming accounts as a low-risk situation.
• With the single sign-on authentication booming, hacking the accounts of other applications may provide access to gaming sites.
• Also, a considerable chunk of gamers are young children who are not quite aware of the implications of a data breach.
• Hacking gaming accounts may provide virtual currency that can fetch high prices in the real-world. Data that exposes user location, engagement, and other details, is also a real concern.

Both gamers and gaming companies must shift their perspective to view data breaches as dangerous potential threats and take necessary steps. The Emuparadise and Zynga’s Words with Friends breach emphasize this point further.

What can gamers do to stay safe?

Although a fair amount of responsibility for securing gaming platforms lies with the company, there are a few things gamers can do to protect themselves and their data.

• Use strong, unique passwords for all your gaming accounts. Turn on multi-factor authentication if available.
• Exercise caution when dealing with possible phishing emails. This includes emails that may claim to offer you game money or the like for a nominal amount.
• Make sure your gaming system has a trusted anti-virus software installed.

What can gaming companies do to help?

Finding the balance between security features and usability can be a challenge but with the looming number of cyber threats, it is essential to find a way to improve security.

• Alert users about security threats and offer tips on how to secure their data while using your game.
• Adhere to standard practices when collecting and storing the personal and financial data of users.
• Explore features such as behavioral biometrics that can add a layer of security for users.