The technologically advanced world of today has enabled the emergence of free online games as a dominant source of entertainment. These games captivated millions with their immersive worlds and revolutionized the gaming industry. But along with these novel ways of gameplay, cyber threats have also risen simultaneously. But with the tools of today, it has become possible to counter these issues and have a smooth gaming experience. In fact, gamers believe that with the introduction of a suite of cybersecurity tools, they can experience gaming in a much safer environment.
Fortify your digital domains
There are numerous tools online that can help increase your defenses in the cyber world. Players must consider strong passwords that comprise 12 characters at least and are not easy to guess by perpetrators. Setting up a multi-factor authentication is also a sound strategy to counter any illicit practice. Adding another step to your log-in could alert players when a breach is about to occur. A password protector tool that could help here is Cain and Abel.
Another such tool is Burp Suite. It is a tool for web application security testing. It helps in completing the testing process for preliminary mapping. It also evaluates an application’s attack surface and ensures its security flaws are not exploited.
Another open-source privacy network that allows players to play online games anonymously is Tor. This tool hides a player’s IP address and browsing activity. It is used by individuals who seek to safeguard their identity while browsing. Identity theft is a cybercrime that many people fall prey to. So, tools like Tor will help counter it.
It is also important to cross-verify the website’s players engage with often. Players must go through the manufacturer or hosting company’s terms and conditions to make sure they understand any immediate or future hidden charges. This will help weed out the fake or inauthentic websites that are likely to cause any harm to the players. Additionally, players need to be aware of phishing emails that encourage them to click or visit unknown websites. It is always good to have a filter that automatically detects such emails and sends them to the spam folder.
It is also important to keep track of the traffic one is engaging with. Splunk is a real-time analytics tool that will help understand the nature of the audience that approaches a gaming website and rule out inauthentic users.
Additionally, while disposing of a laptop or gaming device, players must ensure that they delete all their existing data and passwords. If the devices reach a potential cybercriminal, it could prove dangerous to leave such data around in an unsolicited manner. It is also advisable to have a virtual private network or VPN while playing free online games. Doing so will help protect the players’ identity and ultimately safeguard them from malicious entities.
Gaming-induced cybersecurity challenges
There are numerous ways through which free online games, including card games, can lead to cybersecurity threats. Viruses and malware usually arise in free online games if they do not have stringent security measures in place. Playing games on or downloading games from untrustworthy sites can cause this to happen. Malware or viruses can be disguised as legitimate files or games and can cause users to engage with them unintentionally.
Phishing emails are another threat that occurs due to free online games hosted by illicit entities. Many online gaming sites require users to register and provide details like name, email address, phone number, and more.
“My son uses my email ID to log in to many gaming sites. I soon found out that I get many emails asking me to click on a link or log in to a third-party site to get more points. I realized these were fake emails later,” claimed Ashika Gupta, the mother of an 11-year-old boy. “I had to manually check and block the websites my son visits in order to keep my account safe,” she said.
As mentioned earlier, a lot of personal data can get into the wrong hands if players are not cautious with free online games. This data could be used for identity theft, cyberbullying, and other issues.
Conclusion
The online gaming sphere is largely a friendly place and its popularity continues to soar. But it is also important to recognize the risks and prioritize cybersecurity. So, implementing preventive measures beforehand is the need of the hour. Players need to remember that online gaming is not just about entertainment, it is a vast network with players from all over the world. So, players must power up their digital armor and stay informed about the threats with which the world of free online games comes.