The online gaming industry is bigger than it’s ever been before. Every day – morning and night – gamers all around the world use their favorite devices, from iPhones to gaming PCs, to access different titles. The player bases of many multiplayer online games are huge (just look at the numbers for Fortnite and Warzone) – which means staying safe and secure should be one of your main priorities.
Whether you’re a concerned parent or an adult who just wants to be more vigilant, this article is for you. Here are some pro tips for staying safe when gaming online.
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Change your password every month
It’s a good idea to frequently change your password. Some gaming companies will prompt you to change it every 6 months – but this is very rare. Generally, it’s down to the user to do it themselves.
Every month is the perfect time period to change your password. Normally, you can change your password through email or the company’s game portal – and it only takes a couple of minutes.
Use Two-Factor Authentication
If the option is there, you should absolutely use two-factor authentication for your game accounts – it’s a no-brainer. What this means is that, when you log into your account, you’ll receive a text or email to confirm it’s really you. This way, no hackers can illegally access your account.
For example, Epic Games (the creators of Fortnite) provide you the opportunity to activate two-factor authentication either through your phone number or email. Either works well – it’s all about your personal preference.
Report any abusive messages
Because many multiplayer online games are super competitive, it can cause some people to get angry and send abusive messages. If this happens to you, don’t engage with the individual – simply report and block them. This way, you prevent yourself from any provocative situations and won’t put your account at risk of getting banned by sending abusive messages in return
Limit your in-app purchases
Many games, from console to PC and mobile, offer what’s called ‘in-app’, or ‘in-game’, purchases.
Essentially, these are additional game content items and cosmetics that were not included in your original purchase. Some game companies even sell their games for free, and make profits exclusively through in-app purchases – it’s a very popular business model in today’s gaming world.
In-app purchases are, for the most part, harmless. However, some gamers get carried away and find themselves spending ridiculous amounts of money on them every week – which is not good, particularly for kids.
As a gamer, you need to avoid becoming addicted to in-app purchases. Remember, they can be deceptive, as their prices are usually low – companies want you to buy a lot of them and fail to realize how much you are spending.
So, set yourself an in-app budget for every month. Calculate your incomings and outgoings to so that you can arrive on a reasonable figure.
