The gaming industry has gained popularity over the years. It’s the favorite form of escapism for many thrill seekers who love to embark on new adventures and solve complex missions. But gaming sites can sometimes attract attention from the wrong people. It has become a target for cyber-attacks and other internet crimes. This is a big threat for game developers who need to incorporate up-to-date cybersecurity protocols to protect their gaming sites. Let’s head over to discuss the importance of cybersecurity for games and how to make it safer for players.
Top 3 reasons to use cybersecurity for gaming sites
Gamers have been using cheat codes since the dawn of the internet. But that’s not the only issue plaguing the industry. More serious threats like account theft, DDoS attacks, financial fraud, data mining, and ransomware, have become a problem for publishers. And these can happen on any platform, such as mobile, PCs, or game consoles. Some of the common gaming sites that need added protection include sports gaming websites, video games, and casino gambling sites as seen on Canadian BonusFinder.
Gaming developers should secure their websites to protect their consumers. Let’s discuss what advantages cybersecurity could bring to a gaming site’s company.
Gaining your consumer’s trust
If gamers’ personal information is not secured, they will lose trust in the publishers and abandon the game. Sometimes hackers attack the games because the game developers have failed to satisfy their demands or requests. In 2016, Pokémon Go became the target of a similar attack. The hackers admitted that they sent repeated warnings to the game owners to make the app’s gaming experience better. Such attacks also make the games lose their credibility after they become inaccessible or start to glitch.
To avoid legal complications
Hacking and in-game programming can have grave consequences for the company. If they neglect the security of their game, the publishers might have to pay heavy fines. It also depends on the different laws and regulations that are specific to their country. As for South Korea, the laws are in favor of the publishers. A recent rule stated a punishment of 5 years for those who are caught violating a game’s terms of service or using cheats. They will also have to pay a fine of $43,000. However, most laws are not friendly to publishers or game developers. The company must face legal consequences in case of a person’s data breach or a player’s information leak.
The General Data Protection Regulation passed in Europe on 25th May 2018 also applies to gaming websites. The regulation is a set of restrictions regarding how a person’s private data is stored, used, and protected. Thus, game developers are obligated to let the players know about the privacy policy and how their information is protected in case of potential breaches or cyberattacks.
Preventing loss of revenue
A cyberattack can have many negative impacts on a game’s reputation. Apart from that, the profitability can also be affected. If a hacker steals in-game currency, or items, or leaks any game’s features, it can result in losses for the developer. For instance, EA incurred a total of $20 million in currency losses in FIFA in 2016. Third-party payment vendors can also be the target of hackers. Thus, game publishers need to have their security protocols and conditions in how they process payments. Even network downtimes can result in a loss of business. Especially if the network is down for a longer period, the payments and financial transactions can halt.
How to protect gaming sites from cyberattacks
Here are some of the ways you can take the necessary precautions to keep your cybersecurity protocols in check.
Monitor game data in the production stage
Publishers should start to monitor games from the software during production. If they have the right cybersecurity protocols set up for your gaming site, it can be easier to alert systems on any potential and reduce such attacks. Some of these measures could include automated incident feedback and dynamic alerts.
Secure and encrypt authentication methods
Make sure any authentication methods used should be secured and encrypted. Two-factor authentication is one example of this method. It helps to secure the data against online attacks and acts as a shield to protect credential information.
Protect the game’s infrastructure
You can secure your game’s infrastructure with a few tips. The infrastructure consists of the servers, networks, and databases that run the code. Protection should be placed on endpoints to tackle DDoS cyberattacks. This way, the player’s game experience will not be interrupted. Databases should be encrypted so no personal information can be hacked. Also, make sure to store data in different locations.
A safe experience for gamers
In essence, gamers want to have an entertaining time, and not have to be in constant fear of losing their money or getting their data stolen. This is why gaming sites need to run frequent cybersecurity exercises to identify any potential cyberattacks. And to use up-to-date security protocols throughout.