Online gaming is becoming ever more popular and the number of games that offer a multiplayer component is constantly growing. Online games provide a great source of entertainment and can be a fantastic pastime, but are also ideal breeding ground for all sorts of negative behaviors such as bullying, verbal abuse, identity theft and more.
It is for this reason that one should make sure they are being safe while gaming online. Of course, you should still enjoy your gaming experience and not be overly concerned about safety, but there are some steps worth taking in order to make sure your experience is both safe and enjoyable at the same time.
We took a close look at some of the main dangers that exist in the online gaming world and we bring you some basic tips to follow during your online gaming sessions. These tips can be applied while playing shooter games like Fortnite, RPGs like World of Warcraft or any other kind of online game, so keep reading regardless of your preferred genre.
Staying Away from Bullies
The internet is a great breeding ground for bullies of all sorts. Since the identity of the person is mostly hidden and there are often no concerns of the consequences, people tend to berate and insult each other on quite a regular basis in the online gaming world.
While some dose of friendly banter can be considered as acceptable, there are many players who are straight up rude and disrespectful of others. Their behavior can be considered as cyber bullying and in some cases may even be punishable.
However, laws and punishments aside, there is plenty you can do to prevent virtual harassment yourself. Almost every game out there allows you to mute or block players and you should do exactly that if a player is being abusive or disrespectful. Simply block their chat and ignore any messages they may send your way.
Keep Your Identity a Secret
There is nothing wrong with making friends in the virtual arena, but giving up your identity too easily could end up costing you in the long run. Since we know how many people out there are trying to take advantage of innocent players in the online gaming world, staying as private as possible is usually the best idea.
If you have been playing with someone for an extended period of time and think it is time you connect with them outside of the game, you can do so, but make sure to be smart about it. Start out by adding each other on a social network like Facebook or just talk to them over Discord until you are more comfortable about sharing social profiles. After all there are many more amazing people out there than creeps.
Protect Your Computer
Anytime you connect to any type of a gaming server, you risk being hacked or exploited in some way. This danger increases as you use other apps that go along with gaming, so using a solid anti-virus suite on your gaming rig is always a good idea.
Apart from anti-viruses that will protect you from all sorts of intrusive files such as viruses and Trojans, you should also look for apps that help protect your computer from hacking attempts. Keep your virtual identity hidden and well protected and make sure you risk as little as possible.
In the World of iGaming
iGaming is a word frequently used for all sorts of real money games that can be played over the internet. This includes online casinos, sportsbooks, poker sites and other types of online gambling sites. Since real money is at play with these, you should make sure to be extra careful while playing there.
Online gaming sites exist all over the world and there are many to choose from. However, we recommend always choosing only those with proper gaming licenses issued by bodies such as the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission. These bodies ensure that operators run a tight ship and don’t try to pull any shady moves. On the other hand, unlicensed sites tend to not pay players or run unfair games that can’t be beat.
You can check this page for a full list of safe online casinos, but any online casino or sportsbook with a proper license should be safe enough to play at. In addition to finding a safe site to play at, make sure that you are using proper banking methods and don’t overexpose your banking details. Using e-wallets like Skrill or NETELLER may be the way to go.
Stay Safe and Enjoy Gaming
Online gaming is a thrilling experience and with every new game that comes out it is only becoming better. With so many advancements in technology that have allowed games to evolve to their current level, missing out on online games would be a shame. Just remember to follow our tips and stay safe while playing over the internet and you will have a great time every time you sit in front of your gaming rig.
