Online gaming is a brilliant hobby. You can connect with people from all over the world on massive multiplayers. You can play new releases instantly thanks to cloud technology. You can instantly play arcade-style games either for free, or for money. There are options for all different kinds of gamers in the online sphere and almost all of the time it is totally safe. However, there are certain steps that gamers can take to ensure they have the very best online security when it comes to their hobby. We’ve put together a list of tips that you can use to make sure that your hobby is totally safe, but no less fun.
Passwords, Passwords, Passwords
Whatever kind of online games you like playing, the vast majority will require you to use a password at some point. It could be to log into your iGaming account, it could be to log in and find your last checkpoint. Whilst a terrifying two-thirds of people use the same password for multiple accounts, this is really bad practice. It might be easy to remember your first pet’s name and follow it with your date of birth, but if someone else gets their hands on that information then your account could be compromised. It’s obviously important to balance security and usability, using long, complex passwords that are easy to forget is probably going to make your gaming experience confusing. Instead, focus on making small changes to a set of a dozen or so memorable passwords. You could begin by replacing letters for numbers, inserting capitals, or including punctuation marks. Making changes in this way will give you thousands of unique combinations that will be much more difficult to guess and won’t leave all of your accounts compromised if one of them gets found out.
Sales and Bonuses
Getting your hands on a game that you’ve wanted for ages, for a fraction of the retail price is a brilliant feeling. So too is finding a new website that holds the game you want to play, even better when they’re offering bonuses for new customers. There’s a joy in snagging a sale item or getting given a bonus that every gamer deserves to enjoy, but it’s important to make sure that the offer you have come across is legitimate. Some websites sell gaming keys at a fraction of the retail price, which is obviously tempting. However, some of these sites may not be as trustworthy as others and can sell false game keys. If you’re unsure about just how safe the site you’re hoping to purchase from is, then the best way to find out is with a quick Google search. Look for reviews that appear anywhere other than the company’s own website. Once you’ve had a trawl through you’ll hopefully find plenty of happy customers, but if you find anyone claiming that the keys are fake, look somewhere else.
If the casino bonus scenario that we mentioned earlier is more the kind of offer that would appeal to you, then your job is a little easier than with the game keys. There are so many sites offering casino bonuses to new players that new websites like Vegas Slots Online have cropped up, which sort through the verified codes and offers for you and put them all in one place. They independently test iGaming websites for their security and safety, so instead of having to Google search for your reviews, you can find them in one trusted place. There’s no need to be put off by an offer that sounds brilliant, as long as you’ve done your little bit of research beforehand.
Antivirus Software is Necessary
Though many Mac users will tell you that antivirus software isn’t necessary, the unfortunate truth is that it very much is. Downloading games from the internet, or anything for that matter, is a part of everyday life for most of us and generally speaking it is completely safe. Sadly though, there are some people who don’t wish the best for all gamers and if you happen to download one of their files then your computer’s safety could be at risk. All of the well-known antivirus software providers have elements in their packages that automatically scan the content that you’re downloading to check for viruses and other nasties. If you don’t have antivirus software installed then the very best thing that you can do to improve your gaming security is to install some immediately.
