As the gaming industry grows and develops, data privacy is quickly becoming a problem, particularly for online gamers and developers. It’s crucial to be aware of the risks involved in order to ensure you remain safe while enjoying your session.
In this guide, we take a look at some of the main ways you can keep your data safe when playing online and why it is so important.
Protect your financial data
Some games require us to input our financial information, which inherently poses risks. Whether you are playing a game of online bingo, slots, or roulette, it’s vital that you choose a reputable platform.
Look for sites that are certified by recognised authorities as this indicates that they operate within legal boundaries and are known for upholding industry standards. Trustworthy casinos will also put in place measures like advanced encryption technology to safeguard your bank details.
Create a secure account
You’ll almost always be required to create an account when playing online. Making sure that the account is secure is your next important step in protecting your personal data.
Your password is the first line of defence; therefore, you must come up with one that no one else can guess. For a strong password, consider using a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid common phrases, birthdays, or personal information.
In addition, you should also provide an extra level of security by utilising Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). Not only does this require your password but also another item in your possession, such as your smartphone. By inputting a code or confirming access, you significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access.
Avoid sharing personal information
Be cautious about who you share your information with. If you’ve never met these individuals in real life, their true identity may differ from the one they present online. It’s for this reason that you should never give out your full name, phone number, or address to other players.
You should also be cautious about giving out your social media. If you have your social media tags on your profile, see to unlink these. You’d be surprised by the information hackers can use to identify and locate you, so try to minimise this risk as much as possible.
Keep all software updated
Site operators and gaming developers will often roll out software updates that contain security patches to fix known issues. Hackers and cybercriminals will try and target users once the software patch has been rolled out in an attempt to exploit them before they’ve had the chance to perform the update.
This affects any type of software, whether it be an online game, video game software, or a mobile app. Downloading software updates immediately is therefore highly important. You can sometimes utilise automatic downloads to prevent you from missing out on these fixes in the future.
