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Gaming is a big entertainment industry with a lucrative market. Unfortunately, the money generated by gaming has attracted individuals with the wrong motive of stealing private information from unsuspecting gamers. These cyberattacks have limited many people from taking part in online gaming for fear of their accounts being hacked.
Normally, hackers disrupt games by exploiting vulnerabilities in their security systems. For example, some games ask for sensitive info from players before allowing them to play. This info can easily fall into the wrong hands if proper cybersecurity measures have not been implemented. In this article, we will look into the significance of cybersecurity in gaming as well as the measures that can be taken to prevent cyber attacks.
Cyber Threats Affecting the Gaming Industry
Cyber threats are different depending on the goal of the hacker. However, the golden rule of thumb in hacking is attacking the weak spots in the gaming software. Here are the major cyber threats in the gaming industry.
→ In-game Cheats and Mods
This attack involves integrating cheating software to give a player an advantage in the game. It takes advanced coding knowledge to create in-game cheats and mods. Mostly, hackers sell the mods to interested players for a profit.
→ PII Leaks
This cyber-attack is also known as Personal Identifiable Information in full. It normally targets valuable private information. If the information is obtained, it is either sold to interested buyers in the black market or used by the hackers themselves. Hackers have various advanced methods for collecting personal data, especially in online games. They can attack data stores, manipulate games, or exploit the errors made by game developers to gain access to this information. Data targeted in this cyber attack mainly include passwords, credit card information, emails, and other sensitive personal information.
→ Phishing Attacks
These attacks create a way for hackers to access payment or personal information from unsuspecting people. Typically, they usually send a message to their victims while posing as a trusted individual. After building credibility, they will request your personal data. When they get the personal data that they were looking for, they can sell or use the data for ransom. Phishing is prevalent in numerous online games, especially the ones that offer in-game rewards.
→ DDoS Attacks
The DDoS attack (Distributed Denial of Service) focuses on overwhelming server traffic to block or slow down authentic connections. This attack aims to frustrate other players to gain an advantage over them by making the game either unplayable or very slow. This attack is common in many online gaming platforms.
How to Protect Gaming from Cyber Attacks
The failure of cybersecurity is the success of cyberattacks. There is a great need to stop hackers by investing in advanced cybersecurity protocols. Here are effective ways of preventing cyberattacks.
● Secure Infrastructure
The gaming infrastructure that runs code includes servers (local and cloud), databases, and networks. The code used in these infrastructures should limit access only to authorized users in order to minimize potential attacks. For example, in online casino games, most reputable companies employ advanced security systems to ensure that all your personal information is safe. To get to these companies, you can click to read more on gamblingsites.com. Additionally, on the Gambling website, you will also see the best gambling sites by region, the different types of gambling available as well as how to avoid scam gambling sites.
● Add security systems during game development
Developers should include in-built security systems when designing and developing a game. They should identify security loopholes and cover them with an advanced system. They should also ensure the game can run static analysis and practice threat modeling.
● Monitor the games during development
Developers should monitor the games in the production process, gather data and use an observability tool to check any arising security issues. The games should also come with automated incident response and dynamic alerting to inform users about the looming cyber threats.
● Safer Authentication methods
The games should be able to encrypt, protect, and store passwords. Using two-factor authentication and other complex protection methods will prevent attacks such as brute force and credential stuffing.
Final Thoughts
Personal information is a very valuable piece that numerous untrustworthy individuals can exploit for various illegal purposes. Game developers can prevent this illegal venture by investing in advanced cybersecurity systems to prevent phishing attacks, PII leaks, DDoS attacks, and game mods. Exceptional cybersecurity protocols will safeguard the developers’ reputation and also improve the gaming experience for gamers.
