Playing online games can be a great solution to get rid of boredom. But it can sometimes be dangerous if you do not take adequate safety measures.
As per one survey, 76% of online gamers experienced harassment in 2023, while 67% have been called offensive names.
Consequently, this can lead to low self-esteem in teenage gamers. It can also provoke them to take harmful steps in the long run.
Besides this, gamers can also face cyber security threats and virus attacks while playing online games on an unreliable gaming platform.
Taking proper safety measures can make a big difference. Download games from trusted platforms like PBS, LEGO, and Hearthstone, and ensure your device has antivirus protection. For those looking to try online games without an initial investment, you can easily access 91.Club to play color prediction games.
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Possible Risks of Online Gaming:
Before diving into the online gaming world, you should become aware of the possible risks of online gaming.
- Harassment from other gamers: While playing online games, other gamers can use abusive and offensive language to harass you.
- Cyber-attacks: Downloading games from an untrusted source can sometimes be dangerous and put you at risk of cyber attacks.
- Theft of personal information: Attackers might steal your personal information. They can mis-utilize the available data to get you in trouble.
- A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack can disrupt the normal traffic of a targeted server, service, or network. This will make applications unavailable to legitimate users.
Effective ways to avoid Risks of online gaming:
Always use a strong password
Using a strong password can help you avoid the security risks of online gaming. You should avoid using passwords that include your name, birth date, favorite sportsperson, or favorite movie.
Accessing your account will be easy if you use your personal information as a password.
Attackers can guess your exact password to hack your account.
Use a strong password containing alphabets and characters/symbols to protect your account from cyber attacks.
Moreover, using multi-factor authentication will make it harder for attackers to access your account.
You can verify your account with a security code after logging in with your ID and password. Usually, these codes are generated by the gaming app automatically.
Download games from a Trusted Source.
Downloading games from an unreliable source can often lead to malware and virus attacks. You should only download verified games from a reputable online store to play online games safely.
Keep your data safe
You should install an antivirus, suitable for online gaming to avoid cyber security threats.
We recommend using Windows Defender, Bitdefender Total Security, McAfee Gamer Security, or Webroot SecureAnywhere to protect your laptop or PC from cyber attacks, identity theft, and DDoS attacks while playing online games.
Do not share your important information online. Avoid giving your IP address to anyone as it will help them locate your exact location.
Do not trust emails that ask for passwords, payment details, or other sensitive data. Trusted sources never ask for these details.
Parental guidance:
- You can monitor your child’s activities by keeping devices in shared family spaces.
- Build trust with your child so that they can share their problems with you. If someone bullies your child, report it on the gaming app. These days, most trusted games have such features.
- Set up privacy settings so they can download games suitable for their age.
- Monitor your child’s spending on gaming apps. Additionally, give them gift cards to control their expenses. Giving them access to credit cards will lead to unnecessary expenditure.
Take Away
Taking simple safety measures can help you avoid the risk of online gaming. Do not open any suspicious links. If you are unsure about a link, ask your parents or elders for proper knowledge. Sharing your account password can also put you in serious trouble. Besides all these precautions, you should only play games on a trusted platform.