Gaming online is tons of fun, but are you keeping yourself safe?
Gaming online is everything we hoped it would be. It’s fun, you can play with friends all over the world, and you get the latest updates delivered to your console or PC in less time that it takes to make a cup of coffee. The only downside (if you could call it that) is that we need to be super-careful when it comes to security. Of course, this is something we should be doing anyway, but we still thought it would be a good idea to give a little refresher course on staying safe when gaming online.
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Online Gaming Safety Tips
It can be quite unknown territory when gaming online, there are so many games from Overwatch, Minecraft, online roulette Canada, sporting competitions, Grand Theft Auto and more… As fun as they are, its important to stay safe. Below are key ways to stay safe when gaming online
Always use a Secure Server
This is the first online gaming safety tip from us. Whether you’re playing online poker or Fortnite, the first step for any gamer is to ensure that you’re playing on a secure server. This means checking that the server has the right encryption and authentication before you even think about playing. If the game hosting provider can’t give you these details then it’s a major red flag.
If you have your own hosting server, then it’s a good idea to protect yourself from DDoS attacks. This is when a hacker will hit a server with huge amounts of traffic and try to bring the service down. Don’t worry, stopping DDoS attacks isn’t all that difficult, but it does take a little time and effort.
Check your downloads
Like we said, this is stuff that you should already do. After all, it’s plain common sense. However, there are times when you hit download without thinking because you don’t suspect for a second that anything untoward will happen.
That’s why no matter who you are downloading from, you should always run everything through an antivirus software if you’re on a PC. If it’s for a console, then only download updates from the developer official website. Cheats, codes, and alleged upgrades could be full of spyware and viruses, so avoid them like the plague.
Protecting your Personal and Financial Information
There are, of course, many gaming niches that require your personal information and quite a few that ask for banking or credit card info too. This may be to verify your age, or in cases where there’s a need for regular deposits or withdrawals from your gaming account, such as in online poker.
In fact, the online poker and casino industry have led the way in this regard for quite some time now. The industry has always been at the forefront of security measures for gamers, with major online poker platforms such as 888poker investing heavily in the area. The online poker company uses key encryption technology to make sure that any sensitive player data is transferred securely and stored behind a regularly updated firewall system. They also guarantee that no spyware, malware, or adware can be found in their software.
This is now the industry standard in the poker and casino niche, with many other industries following suit. That said, there are still quite a few software providers that feel it acceptable to package bloatware with their offerings. They’d do well to take a leaf out of the poker industry’s book and minimize any risk to their customers by removing any potential threats.
So before you download any software required for gaming, make 100% sure that any personal data you enter is transferred securely using key encryption. And double-check the developer’s policy on malware and spyware.
Use an Alias
Make sure no one knows who you really are
Yes, you may have to share your genuine personal information with a game, but that doesn’t mean you must share it with other gamers. ALWAYS use an alias when gaming online and make sure that it’s something that doesn’t reveal your age, gender, location, or real name. Brian95NYC might seem like the perfect gaming handle so your buddies can find you easily, but it potentially gives out way too much personal information.
If you want to make it memorable, then just keep it weird and wacky. But whatever you do, as an online gaming safety tip don’t let people know your real name!
Beware of the Chat Function
Having the ability to chat with other gamers is part of what makes gaming online so appealing. For example, now that they brought cross-platform chat to Fortnite, there’s so much more fun to be had. Just listening to other gamer lose their minds over game glitches can be as much fun as playing yourself.
But this is where you also need to be careful. While you may be using an alias, it’s easy to forget that you need to avoid revealing any personal information on the chat. Don’t tell people your name or where you are, and don’t ask others either.
Another thing to be aware of here is cyberbullying. If you feel uncomfortable with something another player is saying to you or about you, then don’t hesitate to report them to the game developers. Cyberbullying is take extremely seriously and there’s no place for hate speech or anything unsavory in the gaming universe. That also goes for what you say to other players too. Although you may not intend to do so, remember that the words you say can also have a negative effect on other gamers. In short, be nice and make sure that those around you are being nice too.
Avoid public Wi-Fi
This one goes without saying as we all know the danger of public Wi-Fi. Even if you’re desperate for a quick game while waiting in the airport lounge, we strongly advise against using the public Wi-Fi. Use your cellular data if you have an all-you-can-eat plan, play offline, or just wait until you get home. It might seem like an extreme measure but trust us on this one. Public Wi-Fi is not a good idea when your personal or financial information is at risk, and that’s true for everything from online poker through to Call of Duty or Fortnite.
Check out the video below of 5 ways to protect yourself online.
The chances are that you’re already following this advice and keeping yourself safe when gaming online. But if you’re not, then it’s probably about time that you did. Remember that if you take the right precautions, gaming online can be a safe and enjoyable experience. We hope you enjoyed our online gaming safety tips!
