COVID-19 continues to spread at an alarming rate, which means that it’s essential to respect social distancing measures. Staying at home helps – more exactly, it protects health services and saves lives. The fewer people that you’re around, the better. Not only do you lower your chances of getting infected with the coronavirus but also you don’t spread it around. There are plenty of things you can do while staying at home and doing your bidding. You can get a good workout in the privacy of your home. If you happen to get bored, have a virtual game night with your friends. You can test your skills and have a great time while doing it.
Streaming is on the rise among the vast majority of gamers. Gaming is a fun and sociable way to spend your time, but there are some risks that you need to be aware of. Things don’t always go the way they should, just so you know. The data that you’re entering into the laptop or smartphone can reach hackers. It has happened before. Playing games online is incredibly fun, but there are certain risks to logging in. Keep on reading to find out what you need to do to keep yourself protected.
Use a proxy server to protect your personal information
Malicious actors target online games in an effort to take advantage of in-game currency and infect players with malware. They wish to obtain personal information such as full names and phone numbers, not to say passwords and credit card details. It’s not hard to understand what motivates malicious actors. They’re interested in making a profit. The information easily obtained from the game helps them invade your privacy and use the data for criminal purposes, such as fraudulent tax returns or loan applications. Also, the cybercriminals can use your financial information to pay their bills or make fraudulent web-based transactions. The point is that you can never be too careful.
It’s recommended to use a proxy server while playing games online. Even if a proxy isn’t a full-fledged anti-malware/antivirus software suite, it offers a great deal of protection, assisting firewalls, and more. The proxy network hides your true identity and puts a stop to the exchange of data, maintaining your anonymity intact. It’s a pretty good idea to IPRoyal because it’s more reliable. It’s pricier as compared to a datacenter proxy, but you get what you pay for. If you want to keep your online activity hidden from snoops, use a VPN too. It will encrypt your information and won’t give your data to someone else.
Don’t meet up with strangers
So, you’ve made a friend or two in the virtual world. This doesn’t come as a surprise because online gaming is a great way of maintaining social relationships; you share an activity with many other people, an activity that gives your life meaning. However, it’s not a good idea to meet your virtual friends in real life. You don’t know anything about them and, despite any success stories you might have heard, cyber friendships just don’t work out. E-connections fail to translate into the real world and can be downright dangerous. Online anonymity creates a risk that can’t be ignored. It’s better to resume to chat conversations. Given the current situation, it’s advisable to avoid face-to-face encounters.
Even if you’re contacted by someone via a social network or other means of communication, reject the proposal. They’re not like strangers in the sense of the word, but they’re not exactly friends either. Don’t meet up with someone you’ve met online no matter how trustworthy they may appear. There’s no guarantee that you’ll be 100% safe. If you want to do it anyway, at least take some precautions. Ask the person for a video chat on FaceTime or Skype. If they refuse or invoke an unlikely reason, that raises some questions. If you go ahead with the plan, make sure to bring a friend with you, just in case.
Closely monitor your time
Social distancing guidelines have made it impossible to live a normal life. We can’t meet up with friends or family; when we do, it’s necessary to wear a mask and keep a certain distance. Playing games online provides a distraction and lets you blow off steam, but be careful so as not to exaggerate. Closely monitor your time. Excessive Internet usage can lead to anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Even if you have lots of free time on your hands, you shouldn’t spend more than 2- or 3-hours playing games online. More than that interferes with the amount of sleep you get.
Consider creating a gaming log: it can be a spreadsheet or a piece of paper. Record when you start playing and when you stop. At the end of the week, you’ll know for sure just how many hours you’ve spent online. It might be necessary to set limits for yourself. The pandemic isn’t an excuse to spend too much time online. Heavy Internet usage can lead to high blood pressure; let’s not even talk about social isolation. If you go online every single day, you’re more likely to become socially isolated. Install a blocker if you know you can’t control yourself.
New technologies, as well as high-speed Internet have made online gaming the sensation it is today. It’s accessible for everyone to play games. You don’t need more than a smartphone or tablet. Unfortunately, there is an opportunity for mischief and illicit profit. The bottom line is that playing online isn’t always fun and games. Threats can crop up from time to time, which is why you need to watch your back. Besides the fact that your computer or tablet can be compromised, you risk getting bullied by other players. Don’t let the chats become too personal and resist the temptation of meeting players in-person. If you want to take part in online games, do it safely. Awareness and prevention are the only things that will keep you safe.
