Gaming has transitioned from a leisure activity to a legitimate profession with the help of platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Even though many online gamers make a large portion of their income through brand deals and sponsorships, streamers can earn between $3,000 (£2,400) and $5,000 (£4,000) per month on Twitch by playing 40 hours per week. While increasing job flexibility is a major milestone in society, what is concerning with this is that, as online careers continue to become the norm, so do cybersecurity attacks.
Improving Your Gaming Security
Strong Passwords
For gamers, even those who play recreationally, having a secure setup is crucial. Good account security begins with a strong password, which is something people underestimate the importance of. For example, according to this recent ExpressVPN study, 2 in 5 people said they use a variation of their first or last name in their online passwords, and 43% of respondents admitted that their loved ones could likely guess their passwords. These findings indicate poor cybersecurity health since using easy-to-guess passwords makes a hacker’s job simpler. Gamers that have accumulated large followings online, or earn monthly income, do not want to risk hackers getting into their accounts and manipulating or deleting all of their hard work and progress.
System and Malware Protection
Likewise, there are always consequences of sharing your life online. For instance, Twitch streamers do not control who watches their videos, so there is no way to tell if cybercriminals have flagged them as a potential victim. One tech accessory that gamers can use when they want to separate their online life from their offline experiences is a webcam cover. Computer webcams are a way hackers can invade your privacy, entering through outdated operating systems or malware.
Sometimes hackers who access your operating systems through your webcam will sell that information to government agencies. For example, a recent instance of this happened with tech giant Apple after NSO Group, an Israel-based company that sells surveillance software to governments, infected the iPhones of journalists, activists, and academics with its Pegasus spyware. Apple took legal action in late November against the company.
While webcam shades are something everyone should consider, it is even more crucial for gamers with a public platform. They need to ensure they continue to protect their safety long after they have logged out for the day. Speaking of malware, gamers that spend a lot of time online should also download an anti-malware or anti-virus solution to protect their accounts.
Physical Health Protection
It is also important to mention that having a safe gaming setup does not always mean implementing security measures like multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of cybercriminals accessing your personal information. This safety also applies to your mental and physical health, which is why gamers should take advantage of screen filters that reduce blue light levels. This tech accessory is essential to a gamer’s physical health since, according to WebMD, too much blue light exposure can have negative health implications, such as damaging light-sensitive cells in the retina.
Today, anyone with a passion for gaming can build an online community through platforms like Twitch. This passion can even result in brand deals, sponsorships, and income, but as online careers take off, we have to be even more cautious of attracting cybercriminals. Ensuring you have a secure set-up and solid account security by creating a strong password and downloading anti-malware software is only the tip of the iceberg.
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