Simple Ways to Stay Safe While Gaming Online

(Source: https://images.pexels.com/photos/3977908/pexels-photo-3977908.jpeg)

Online gaming is a hugely successful industry with masses of dedicated users. There really is something for everyone when it comes to online gaming, as these games span every genre imaginable from high-stakes online casino gaming, fast-paced action MMOs, and more community-focused cozy games. However, although the internet is a wonderful place that has enabled gamers to come together with shared interests and expand their gaming horizons, it is also full of threats to our digital security and overall well-being. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most effective ways you can keep yourself safe when gaming online.

Remember that it’s just a Game

The most important thing you can do to keep yourself safe when gaming online is to always remember that what you are playing is a game, and if you are not having fun, you should cease playing. This is most pertinent in online casino games with real money stakes, but it comes into play with all manner of online gaming options. It is normal to feel frustrated if you are not winning at a game, but we mustn’t let this frustration dictate our emotions or lead us to behave in a way we wouldn't usually. 

If this sounds familiar, the best thing you can do is step away. This doesn’t mean you have to stop gaming altogether, but at least step away from the game that is causing you distress. If you were using an online casino platform, why not play similar games on a sweepstakes casino that allows playing with coins that are given to you for free by the casino, instead of wagering with real money, without sacrificing on game library sizes and rewards for users.  Similarly, if a high-intensity video game like Call of Duty or Fortnite is sending your emotions into a spiral, switch to something more slow-paced with fewer stakes and easier gaming mechanics.

Download a VPN

Maybe games don’t stress you out. Win or lose, it doesn’t matter to you; you know it's a game, and you know when it’s the right time to step back into the real world. This is a very healthy mindset to have while gaming, but it will not protect you from every threat. Because of the nature of online games being connected to the internet, they are all susceptible to the various malicious actors who look to steal and scam internet users.

As such, to keep yourself protected from these external digital threats, all gamers should make use of a VPN that is known to work well with gaming. This software works by obscuring your IP address and making it appear as if you are accessing the internet from somewhere else in the world. As such, it is made almost impossible for anyone to trace your internet connection back to a source. VPNs also have a variety of other benefits for gamers, chief among them the ability they give online gamers to bypass geographical restrictions while gaming online.

Multi-Factor Authentication

Where possible, you should use multi-factor authentication tools on your online gaming accounts. These tools act as an additional layer of security between you and the personal information stored within these sites. Multi-factor authentication works by, when a system prompts you for a password, sending you a code to a locked device or account, such as your phone or email. Meaning you can only access that gaming account with both your own password and the code that was sent to you by the multi-factor authentication.