Cyber threats are increasingly targeting video games

by Arthur · December 23, 2022

According to Statista, today a large number of people of all ages play video games; around 2.5 billion of the 7.5 billion people in the world.

Video games have become an integral part of our lives, thanks to evolving technology, but so has the gaming industry a lucrative target for cybercriminals. Let’s dig deeper into the ever-growing number of treats targeted at video games and find out how to avoid them.

Table of Contents

Cyber threats are increasingly targeting video games

Among the growing sectors present on the internet today, online gaming is certainly in excellent health. While the companies involved have nothing to complain about, the growing number of players is increasing exposed to online fraud.

The increase in the number of players, the wide range of revenue attacks and the large sums of money in the industry are just some of the many reasons why players are attractive targets for malicious hackers.

The growth of online gambling and its risks

During the last period of lockdown, isolation and anxiety have often been dominant emotions. This was the reason for the rise of new online communities, the rise in instant communication popularity, as well as other methods of alternative social interaction. These have been important factors in the rise of thousands of new game accounts.

One in three people in the world play video games

In accordance Statista, today, a large number of people of all ages play video games, about 2.5 billion of the 7.5 billion people in the world. This is partly due to the technological development of video games and partly to the new possibilities opened up for online games. The Internet has brought an interactive and social element to the gaming world that did not exist before.

With China, South Korea and Japan leading the way, Statista calculates that there will be one billion online gamers worldwide and predicts that they will increase to 1.3 billion by 2025.

The risks

Meanwhile, more and more attention is focused on security issues related to gaming software. Scientists often finds vulnerabilities in video game platforms, while cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting security holes in software and hardware. This means that various games can be a promising field for them.

There is a registered increase in attacks from cybercriminals, especially against the companies they deal with collect data from millions of players.

There have been many cases where many video game players fell victim to scammers spreading malicious links, malware and ransomware.
Attackers also exploit vulnerabilities in the social components of video game platforms to conduct phishing attacks aimed at unauthorized acquisition of user accounts and financial information.
Another type of attack, cryptocurrency mining malware, targets PC gamers. They are the ones who use particularly powerful computers to run the latest games. This makes them perfect targets for cybercriminals looking for powerful cryptocurrency mining machines that they can use for their own purposes without the owner noticing their activities.

Be aware of these risks and be sure to tell others about them. For example, if you have a gaming channel on YouTube, you can add subtitles to online videos to raise cyber threat awareness.

However, be on the lookout even with subtitles like hackers (believe it or not) have already found ways to hijack your system through subtitles.

Safe gaming

Relying only on your own attention and caution is not enough. This is why we strongly recommend choosing the best antivirus software that is most compatible with your needs. The main reason for this is that cyber attacks often target data linked to the user’s identity. In other cases, the goal is to steal and then sell virtual assets in exchange for real money or steal game accounts.

Following the basic rules of online data security becomes the basis for protecting yourself as a video game player.

Here’s what you might want to do:

Use two-factor authentication: it is a type of multi-factor authentication, which is based on confirming the user’s identity using two independent factors;
Beware of phishing: it is a type of scam that aims to obtain personal information, financial data or access codes. Never click on random links shared with you in chats and/or instant messages;
Strong password: Choose strong passwords unique to each game account and change them regularly.

Playing responsibly has the dual purpose of protecting your online identity and ensuring interaction that aims to have fun with minimal risk margins. Finally, being aware of current threats is another important step in protecting against malicious activity online.