Online Gambling Security

For many many years people have travelled to Las Vegas to try their luck. Many have left empty handed and some left with their pockets full of money. This article will give you a little history of the Internet and Online Gambling. Nevada is the first state to make it legal for state residents to play poker online. It won't be the last, however. At least a dozen states are looking at Internet gambling as the latest means to. The security provision also includes IP Access Rules and Zone Lockdown. Having all these measures available in one place is a valuable benefit to online gambling sites that want to protect player security. Legalizing online sports betting means a new need for security In the wake of SCOTUS paving the way to legalizing online sports betting in the U.S., states are figuring out the best approach to.

Theresa Lanowitz collaborated on this blog.

Introduction

The proliferation of technology and internet connectivity has made it possible for people to seek out most things online, and gaming and gambling are not exceptions. In addition to online video games, social media, music, and video streaming, there are also online casinos and gambling for real money. Well, for gambling in the USA there are state laws to mind, but in some states online gambling is permitted.

Many players have registered on online gaming and gambling sites to enjoy the action right in their homes or wherever they may be (although with COVID-19, people may be stuck at home more than they want.) The demand for VIP membership to online casinos is rising. With online gambling in particular, on top of cybersecurity awareness and safe practices, there is the additional need to review and find the online casinos with a good reputation, and robust online security. Check for scams related to a new site. Anything involving money gets the attention of cyber criminals.

The popularity of online games on marketplaces is growing. You can play for free, but many fun features are offered “for fee”. The rest of the article will focus on online gaming, as that’s legal pretty much everywhere.

Risks and threats in online gaming

As you enjoy your gaming session, you need to know the risks involved to take precautions and highly secure your data from unauthorized access. The most common threats to online gamers include the usual lineup:

Computer viruses

Almost all internet users have encountered computer viruses, as they are quite common. It’s pretty basic, but antivirus is basic protection against old, known attacks. Opening unsolicited emails, downloading free software, and sharing devices like flash disks are ways viruses can infiltrate your computer.

Ransomware attacks

Online gamers need to bear in mind they are subject to infection with ransomware. A tell-tale sign that your computer is under attack from ransomware is when you cannot access your files unless you pay a hefty ransom.

Phishing scams & Identity theft

Say you receive an email from an online gaming outfit you’ve played on before with a neat offer. How can you be sure it’s really from them and not a phishing attack? Phishing attacks happen when cybercriminals mimic trustworthy individuals or institutions to obtain private information like passwords. With the stolen information, these criminals can access your credit, use your identity to open bank accounts, make PIN changes, or even sell your identity to con artists.

Spyware

If you’re dealing with a disreputable online gaming operation, especially if the service is free, they might be spying on you and selling your personal information. Spyware does precisely what spies do; studying your every move and action while using the internet without your permission. Your browsing history quickly finds its way to third parties, which is a serious privacy breach.

Trojan malware

Especially when you download executables from a site – there is a very real danger they might bring Trojans with them, or legitimate executables may have been replaced with Trojans. Trojan viruses resemble real software and are some of the most common tools used by cybercriminal networks. They have been notably used by criminals on webcams to watch their targets' movements and gather vital information.

How to help protect yourself against cybercrime when using online gaming

Thanks to the internet, the world is now a global village, and staying away is not an option. Arguably you could stay away from online gaming. But what fun would that be? On the bright side, there are many ways to help mitigate your risks and have a safer online experience.

Use a reliable Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Virtual Private Networks are a must-have tool, whether you are protecting your home or office network. They conceal crucial information like your location, IP address, history, activity, and digital devices, making them a very strong security measure against identity theft threats.

Install antivirus software on your computers

Antivirus software scan for known viruses and prompt you to take action once they find a threat. They indicate the infected files and schedule regular scans to protect your computer. Also, reliable antivirus software will offer protection against ransomware, spyware, Trojans, and spam. However, antivirus software only deals with known threats, and nothing is a total assurance.

Look out for suspicious emails and pop-ups

Opening unsolicited emails and pop-ups are like opening a Pandora box when it comes to cybersecurity. Anyone can target you through such emails and once you open them, there is no telling the level of damage that can occur, including phishing attacks.

Be safe using public Wi-Fi

Nowadays, public Wi-fi is available in almost all public spaces. While the allure of freebies in these harsh economic times may seem tempting, think again before you login in to play your favorite game, then use the same WiFi to do some banking transactions. Cybercriminals have mastered the gaps in public Wi-Fi and will easily steal your personal information. If you have no other option, use a VPN for important transactions. Take good care with public WiFi.

Ditch Wi-Fi for your mobile network when handling private information

Your mobile phone can connect to the internet either through your cellular network or through Wi-Fi. You can configure your phone to automatically use known Wi-Fi if it’s available. What differentiates the two is that cellular networks are encrypted while Wi-Fi is not. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to use your mobile network when accessing private information like your bank account.

Create strong, long, unique passwords

Unique passwords for your online gaming and gambling accounts make the work of cybercriminals harder, locking them out of your accounts. Such passwords are long passphrases, following NIST guidance. Avoid using personal details like your date of birth or popular words like the names of celebrities that are easily guessed. Consider using one of the many available password managers for hassle-free password management and security.

Clear all information before selling or donating digital devices

Many people forget that their devices carry a good deal of personal information, including cached info and saved login credentials to your gaming and gambling accounts. For this reason, you need to provide that that all information is cleared before selling your device. Apart from applying factory reset, you can use a data destruction company to destroy your hard drive before giving it up for recycling.

Conclusion

Online gaming can be very enjoyable. But stay safe! Learning to help protect your data from cybercriminals will go a long way to providing you get the best out of your online experience. Enlisting a combination of these tools is the best approach for maximum online security. While it may prove a bit expensive to access all these tools, it can be much cheaper in the long run when you have less worries about losing your cash or personal details to online fraudsters.

Online Gaming Security is a topic that many might overlook. In his monthly security newsletter to staff, Jason Gay, Senior Director of IP/IT & Transport for OTELCO, offers some important information and tips for protecting yourself.

Jason wrote:
“While I realize that the topic this month, online gaming security, pertains to the security of your home computer and network, I do think it’s important to continue to be aware of the risks and threats from all aspects of the Internet. It might surprise you that there are some very real consequences for letting your guard down in this area. Because gamers invest large amounts of time and money in today’s sophisticated games, others see an opportunity for mischief or illicit profit. The technological and social risks of online games should be understood by anyone who enjoys them.”

Online Gaming Security Risks

There are a lot of choices that exist in today’s online gaming environment. Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games have emerged as a popular genre. Most allow players to create online identities as game characters who participate in virtual adventures, which sometimes cross into the real world. For example, gamers sell virtual game items for real-world money in markets such as Flipkart, Amazon etc. In some games, there is a user-created, virtual world where people use real money to create or purchase personal property in their online world. This has created an opportunity for a new type of criminal activity called “virtual crime.”

In general, online gaming may involve both social risks and technological risks. Thus, many online gaming risks are similar to those computer users may have already encountered, but they may not have realized that the games pose another opportunity for the compromise of their privacy or computer security.

Guidelines to Maximize Online Gaming Security

Online Gambling Michigan

• Create a family e-Mail address for signing up for online games.
• Screenshots: If anything bad happens while playing online games, stop immediately and take a screenshot (using the “print screen” button on the keyboard) and report it — using the screenshot as evidence.
• Use antivirus and anti-spyware programs.
• Be cautious about opening files attached to e-Mail messages or instant messages. Verify the authenticity and security of downloaded files and new software.
• Configure your web browsers securely. Use a firewall.
• Set up your user profile to include appropriate language and game content.
• Set time limits for children.
• Never download software and games from unknown websites.
• Beware of clicking links, images and pop-ups in the websites as they may contain a virus and harm the computer.
• Never give personal information over the Internet while downloading games.
• Some free games may contain a virus, so be cautious and refer while downloading them.
• Create and use strong passwords.
• Patch and update your application software

Check out the OUCH Newsletter published by the SANS (SysAdmin, Audit, Network, and Security) Institute for more information.

Online Gambling Security

It’s not just children who are susceptible, CNET shares an interesting PEW Survey about adults and video-gaming.
Furthermore, the threat isn’t limited to the home. Today’s new corporate culture permits employees to BYOD (bring your own device) to stay connected with personal email, gaming, social media, etc (during lunch and breaks of course). Making sure that your guest network is secure might not be a bad idea.