Your gaming account is no longer just a login and password. Nowadays, many gamers put hours into their progress, create impressive characters with unique features, pay loads of money for skins and items, and even top up their virtual wallets with in-game currency. Your account is like a second identity, even if it’s completely digital. Other users recognize and respect you based on your character. So, what happens when hackers take advantage of it?
They’re not just stealing the account. Most of the time, they sell everything they can and then transfer the currency to a different wallet. In some cases, the whole account might be sold to third parties. Either way, you lose everything you’ve worked so hard for just because of the lack of precaution on your end.
How can this loss of investment be prevented? Today, let’s explore cybersecurity for PC gamers.
Why Gamers Are In Vulnerable Positions
As gaming grew as a hobby, so did account hacks and takeovers. Hackers target PC gamers due to their weak precautions and often lacking cybersecurity awareness. Many users reuse old passwords, come up with basic credentials, or even fall for social engineering tactics. Phishing attacks are also quite common, since gamers are usually targeted with free mods and bonuses, they are inclined to click on a suspicious link without thinking twice.
Once hackers are in, they might do more than sell the account or items for financial gain. Your gaming account can also be used for malware spreading and further attacks on your online friends and team members. Furthermore, your real-life identity might be uncovered and compromised. So, it’s essential to know how to stop these attacks early on.
Use Strong Passwords
The first and main step to securing your gaming account is to change your password to a stronger one. You can no longer use your name or “password” as a combination, as it takes seconds for a hacker to figure this out. Avoid reusing passwords on several accounts. Use only unique and strong passwords for each one, aim for at least 10 characters, and make them nonsensical. Include numbers, special characters, upper- and lowercase letters in the combination.
Allow 2FA
The next step is to reinforce the password you have already created. Two-factor authentication can make a lot of difference when it comes to common hacking techniques. When you enable 2FA, the bad actor will need access to either your email or your mobile phone to approve the login attempt. So, even if your password has been figured out, they won’t be able to break in. Research shows that it reduces the risk of compromise by 98.56% for all online users.
Use a VPN
Do you go to PC clubs or game from your laptop in public? Connecting to public networks and logging into your account can be unsafe if you’re not protected. In that case, hackers take advantage of the network and infiltrate users to look for personal information. A VPN for PC, however, negates that risk by encrypting your traffic: it becomes a mess of code to unauthorized users.
Recognize Phishing
Gamers are keen on mods, free items, and limited-edition bonuses. So, hackers use that to lure them into clicking on suspicious links and sharing their credentials. Avoid that and learn how to recognize phishing attempts. Always check the email addresses and websites promising you something special in your game. If you’re doubting, better see if the official platform is running a giveaway.
Watch for Common Signs
Unfortunately, many online users miss the small signs that their accounts have already been compromised. Things like unauthorized in-game purchases, missing digital currency, failed login attempts, or even suspicious chat messages sent from your account are subtle red flags that you should never ignore. If you notice anything similar, log out of all devices on your account and change your passwords.
Enable Identity Theft Protection
If you do miss the signs before, it’s still not too late. You still have time to stop the main impact from leaving your online gaming space and protect your real-life identity. The best way to do this is to contact the best identity theft protection services available. These services offer several features to protect your sensitive data, including 24/7 monitoring, automatic real-time alerts, insurance for financial loss, and even recovery support.
Beating the Final Boss — Hackers
Gaming is a fun endeavor—until hackers get hold of your account. Then, you have to deal with devastating consequences, such as losing your investments, items, or even the whole account you’ve worked so hard on. Thankfully, this can all be avoided with a proper cybersecurity routine. Create strong passwords, turn on 2FA, use a VPN service on public networks, and watch for common hacking signs to ensure that unauthorized users can’t break into your personal gaming space.
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