There are cases where the house loses. Last year, MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment lost valuable customer data through socially engineered attacks. In what seems to be the most common way cybercriminals are trying to access players’ information, social engineering threatens to take the industry back to the early 2000s when such cases were rampant.
But are online casinos in on it, or is it something they are working actively to prevent? This article looks at the details of social engineering and gambling. It highlights the threats social engineering poses to players and the measures online casinos such as 7slots are taking to manage them. It also shares valuable information to help you protect yourself from socially engineered attacks.
What Is Social Engineering?
Social engineering can be defined as the art of manipulating people to share confidential information. The information criminals are after varies but can include your ATM PIN, PayPal password, security questions to your crypto wallet, or access to your PC so that they can install malware. Using the malware, they can access data and information remotely.
Social engineering tactics have become quite rampant because it is easier to exploit someone’s natural inclination to trust than it is to hack their smartphone or PC. For instance, it is easier to ask someone for their mother’s maiden name after gaining their trust than it is to hack their password (unless they are using a very weak password).
What Does A Socially Engineered Attack Look Like?
Identifying a socially engineered attack is quite easy. Many of them involve criminals using confidence and persuasion to obtain the information they want. When players are exposed to these tactics, they are more likely to take action or act in ways they otherwise wouldn’t.
How do you protect yourself from social engineering?
Technical security and safety measures won’t be able to stop any socially engineered attacks. Cybercriminals will simply contact you through phone, email, social media, or the casino’s collaboration tools. You’ll be shocked to know some of these attacks are usually inside jobs. But it doesn’t mean you cannot prevent social engineering attacks from happening. If you are keen on keeping socially engineered attacks from happening, these are some of the tips you must consider:
- Limit the information you share online: this includes data posted on social media accounts and professional accounts such as LinkedIn. The more information you disclose on the internet, the easier it is for you to become a target.
- Secure your devices: Whether you frequently play online casino games on your PC or smartphone, ensure they are properly secured. Instead of traditional passwords, use passkeys and activate 2FA to secure your account.
- Don’t sign up with any online casino: to avoid joining a platform notorious for phishing and credit/debit card fraud. To achieve this, ensure you run background research to validate its license and reputation in the iGaming niche.
- Avoid storing financial information online: as this puts the data at risk. Many people prefer saving their credit/debit cards using Google Password Manager. In the event their devices are hacked, they make it easy for cybercriminals to access the data.
Most importantly, do a lot of research and reading to know the latest social engineering tactics cyber criminals are using to ‘harvest’ data. When playing in an online casino, never share any information or data with ‘friends’ you just met at the live chat sections.
Legitimate Casinos Don’t Engage in Social Engineering
Some people might argue that online casinos use social engineering as a way of managing players. However, this is far from the truth. While some may use clever marketing methods to get players to sign up with them, they hardly practice any social engineering techniques unless for unlicensed and unregulated brands. This is why it’s essential for you to run a background check on the online casino you plan on joining before you sign up with it.
