Gamers could have a greater risk of being exposed to online threats. Here are some tips to help keep you safe.
Online Gaming
Online gamers are as likely as anybody else to encounter scams and malware attacks. In fact, because gamers often spend a considerable amount of time online, they may even be more likely than most users to be exposed to an attack. Further, the camaraderie that exists in close-knit gaming communities makes it all the more likely that people will be tempted to click on a link sent by another competitor – especially as they may be thinking more about the action at hand than potential risks. In a recent newsletter, Australian security company PC Tools explained how attacks can work:
- Seed pirated copies of popular games with malware. Most recently, cybercrooks abused public interest in StarCraft II, targeting gamers downloading from a BitTorrent site. Several .exe files were malicious, and contained the ability to inject code, log keystrokes, and capture passwords.
- Attempt to gain access to a gamer’s personal information (usernames, passwords, even credit card information) by pretending to share a common interest. Take advantage of known vulnerabilities in software or operating systems to spread various forms of malware (viruses, worms, trojans, and the like). Once one computer has been infiltrated, an entire network could be next.
PC Tools also provided some hints on how to keep safe while gaming:
- Don’t get zapped: Get both signature-based and behavior-based anti-malware protection. Signature-based antivirus software proactively screens incoming and outgoing emails, Internet downloads, zip files and hard drives. Behavioral-based protection provides efficient and proactive protection against Internet threats such as viruses, keyloggers, rootkits and trojans, as well as new and unknown threats.
- Turn on your shield: A firewall will prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to your computer through the Internet or a network and will also make sure that unauthorized programs don’t take up your bandwidth while you play.
- Play smart: Don’t supply other players with your personal details or click on any links they offer you, limit the amount of personal information you supply the game’s administrator server, and don’t share your game password or your account credentials with other gamers –- fellow gamers and hackers can cheat!
- Do your homework before you play: Research the game’s hacking history on the Internet before you subscribe to an online game to identify the security risk.
If you’re a parent of kids who are into online games, there is an additional point you need to consider. It’s not unusual for kids to look for ways to avoid paying for games, and that can put their computers at risk – they may end up downloading compromised files or end up visiting malicious, malware-serving websites. I’ve seen computers belonging to young family members that have been infected with a smorgasbord of malware (yes, Ben and Izaac, I am talking about you!), from password-stealing Trojans to malware that causes pop-up ads for gambling and porno websites. Now, if a kid is doing this from their own computer then, depending on your moral standpoint, you may or may not consider it too much of an issue. If, however, a kid is causing the family computer – one that’s used for online banking and other financial transactions – to be compromised, it can be a real problem (example). Installing an antivirus program and keeping it updated will certainly help, but it’s still not a sure-fire solution as there is always a risk that it may not detect a new strain of malware.
The best advice is not to share a computer with your kids but, of course, this is not an option for everybody. If you do need to share a computer with your kids, here are a few hints that may help keep you – and your money! – safe:
Set rules. Tell your kids that they are not allowed to download cracked/pirated software and explain why.
- Password-protect your antivirus program so it cannot be disabled.
- Educate yourself. Learn the risks and learn to recognize warning signs (for example, if your 13 year old has installed WinRAR, you’ll probably want to ask why!).
- Block it completely. If you’d prefer to simply block your kids from playing online games, you can do so using the excellent and no-cost OpenDNS or other parental control software. Additionally, you can use User Accounts to prevent your kids installing software without your permission (Why use a standard user account instead of an administrator account?)
- Talk to them. Make sure that you understand what your kids use the computer for and make sure that they understand the risks associated with certain types of activity.
Has your computer ever been compromised as a result of online gaming? Or do you have a security tip to share? Leave a comment and let us know!
Source: sync-blog.com
