Online games have become a favorite pastime for people of all ages all over the world. With everyone having a mobile phone capable of playing online games these days, it’s only normal that more and more people play. But with the greatly increased online presence of everyday people comes a greater risk of falling victim to cybercrime. That’s why it’s essential to know whether playing a game is safe before you access and open it. In this article, we’ll talk about how to know whether an online game is safe to play in 2024 before putting yourself at risk.
Consider the Platform You’re Using
The most significant risk comes from downloading apps from unknown or unsafe sources. For example, online casinos have become extremely popular lately, especially sweepstakes casinos. Users can choose from a huge selection of games, such as slots or other popular casino games, and play remotely from any device.
These players often play from apps that can be downloaded from the publisher’s website. However, some users might stumble upon an unsafe site and try to install an app without thinking twice. In this case, they could be at risk. That’s why it’s essential to find a source of safe and verified online sweepstakes casinos if that’s what you’re looking for. And since sweepstakes casinos are generally legal in states and regions where online gambling is prohibited, they’re a popular and easily accessible alternative to actual gambling sites. However, they are every bit as exciting and entertaining!
The risk of downloading from the wrong site obviously isn’t the case for all platforms. There’s minimal risk in playing from a gaming console connected to your television. The greatest danger in that scenario would be your account being hacked and someone accessing and hijacking it to steal the account from you. In that case, they would have access to your personal information, resulting from not having a secure password—not from the platform itself.
If playing through a browser, just be very careful what you install from that website.
Signs That a Game isn’t Safe to Play
The first place you should look to find out if an online game is safe is online reviews. You can search in places like Reddit for user reviews and watch out for mentions of malware, identity theft, account theft, DDoS attacks (cyberattacks on your home network), or even bullying.
Try to find detailed reports if there were any incidents. Just because one angry user complained about the game doesn’t mean it’s unsafe. But if there are several accounts or similar problems, it’s best to avoid that game altogether.
Next, if their website or anything about them looks and feels spammy, it might not be safe. Trust your gut if something feels off—especially if you can’t find much information about the game online. Newer games with less user engagement could potentially be riskier. Tried and true games that have been around for a while with active users are always a safer bet.
Avoid pirated or cracked ‘games.’ When downloading content from torrent and pirate websites, you put yourself at risk. You are installing something willingly that could end up containing a virus of some sort. Buying the game from the publisher’s site or a safe platform like Steam is much better.
How to Improve Your Security for Gaming
As mentioned above, downloading games from trusted and verified sources is essential. In addition, here are a few more ways to keep you secure when playing games online.
Create a Very Strong Password
Simply using an easy-to-remember password isn’t secure enough. To better protect your accounts, you should choose a long, complicated password, such as a string of letters, numbers, and symbols.
Don’t Share Personal Information
Never share account login information, passwords, or personal information such as ID numbers or pictures of your IDs. Private information must be kept secure to keep you safe.
Use MFA (multi-factor authentication)
To go a step further to make your accounts even more secure, you should opt for two-factor or multi-factor authentication whenever possible. This usually involves verifying your account through an SMS code or email.
Don’t Open Suspicious Links
Beware of phishing scams, especially in your email inbox. Cybercriminals commonly use this trap. Avoid any link that seems to go to an unfamiliar website or has an odd URL.
Conclusion
Playing online games is one of the most fun pastimes in the digital age. Some people play mobile games so much that they actually need to cool their phones down with water. Pulling out your phone and playing anywhere, anytime is super convenient. But be extra careful when it comes to playing new games. Always choose games from verified safe sources, and do your due diligence to keep your accounts and devices as secure as possible. Then, you’ll have a safe and secure gaming experience, even when downloading and playing games you’ve never tried, which is half the fun!
