Online games are very popular across all age groups. Whether on a smartphone, PC, or gaming console, it has never been easier to interact with other players around the world. And it has never been so unsafe. It is good to trust your safety at the 20Bet login.
“Gaming” has become an important part of the entertainment industry with significant cultural acceptance and extensive offshoots into accessory and service offerings. A global revenue of nearly 200 billion US dollars is projected for this sector by 2025. Unfortunately, there are also cybercriminals here who exploit, deceive, and cause harm to players. We have therefore compiled some tips on how to stay safer while online gaming.
Beware of False Friends: Watch Out for Phishing Attempts
The biggest risk in online gaming is not from the technologies used but rather from interactions with other individuals. Therefore, be cautious of any unusual messages that urge you to take action. This is especially true if supposedly trusted channels or contacts prompt you to click on a link or download a file within the game itself; remain skeptical. Also, be wary if you receive messages from manufacturer support via internal channels. If in doubt, it’s better to confirm through another communication method.
Keep Systems and Games Updated and Secure
Use different and strong passwords for all your various online accounts. This way, attackers cannot easily guess your passwords and take over your accounts. Secure your devices by always using the latest version of the operating system and game software or mobile app. Enable automatic updates if possible. By keeping your devices and gaming applications up to date, you eliminate most known vulnerabilities.
Caution When Trading and Exchanging on Third-Party Platforms
Many online games have well-known external marketplaces and forums where interested players can gather additional information, trade, exchange, or purchase virtual goods. Just like in the real world, fraudsters are attempting to trick you and steal your money or virtual currency. Therefore, be particularly cautious when interacting outside the gaming platform. Only engage with individuals who have a good reputation and whom you can trust.
Pay Attention to Original Software and Authenticity of Sources
While it may seem tempting, using non-original software always carries the risk of additional malware and backdoors through modified programs. Therefore, download game software and add-on packs only from trusted websites. Attackers often create fake or infected versions and distribute them from their own servers. If a game or add-on requires disabling security tools or changing system settings, you should not use it.
Early Risk Education for Children and Adolescents
One of the most effective measures you can take to protect your children is to educate them early and maintain an open dialogue about the dangers and risks. Ask your children to show you which online games they use. Pay attention to security settings, strong and unique passwords, the tone of communication among players, or restricting gameplay to familiar players. Teach your children not to share personal information online. Find out if your child’s games support in-app purchases and how these can be safely monitored. Often, there are dedicated settings to prevent excessive spending in advance.
Online Gaming Cost Trap: Free-to-Play
Particular caution is warranted when dealing with many aggressively advertised free-to-play games. Often, children and adolescents are systematically targeted with microtransactions to keep them engaged with the game, resulting in massive profits. The platform saferinternet.at, in collaboration with the Klicksafe Youth Panel, has developed an information and prevention quiz to draw attention to such dangers on time and to prevent a “gaming money disaster.”
Even during leisure time spent on online gaming, it is important to stay alert to avoid falling for naive scams. Especially when something seems too good to be true, it often is a fraud. It’s not always about money – data, accounts, and other information can also be valuable to attackers.