Hardcore gamers are more likely to suffer a cyberattack
Survey reveals that a gamers’ competitive streak may make them prone to cyberattacks
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Nearly half of allgamers(46%) have been the victim of a cyberattack, with the figure rising to 66% among hardcore gamers, reveals a new survey.
Furthermore, in their bid to shed light on the cyber risks impacting the gaming community, the global survey conducted byNortonLifeLockfinds that well over half (76%) of the attacked gamers have lost more than $700 on average as a result of the attack.
Surprisingly, many gamers admit to a number of riskyonline gaminghabits, such as reusing the samepasswordfor more than one gaming account or device, and sharing personal information including their names and birthdays, while playing a game online.
We’re looking at how our readers use VPNs with streaming sites like Netflix so we can improve our content and offer better advice. This survey won’t take more than 60 seconds of your time, and we’d hugely appreciate if you’d share your experiences with us.
Click here to start the survey in a new window«
Some even admitted to downloading add-ons from a website that isn’t associated with the game distributor.
“Cheats, trainers and exploits can be incredibly alluring for driven gamers. Scammers know this and will often try to trick gamers into clickingphishinglinks or downloadingmalwareby touting limited edition items or secret cheat codes that promise to give a competitive boost,”remarkedDarren Shou, Head of Technology, NortonLifeLock.
Whatever it takes
The survey of over 5,300 adults across eight countries also uncovered surprising findings about gamer-to-gamer cyber risks, and the great lengths gamers are willing to go to win.
For instance, nearly one in four (27%) gamers admit that they would hack into the gaming account of a friend, family member or romantic partner if they knew it would give them a competitive advantage in an online game. This sentiment is more pronounced among hardcore gamers in the US, with two in five (42%) admitting to this behaviour.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Furthermore, among American gamers who have had a gaming device or account targeted by a cyberattack, one in five (21%) have been doxxed, or had their personal information stolen and shared publicly online.
“I’ve learned that when you’re gaming online, it’s so important to be mindful of who you are friends with online and what information you share. While this is especially true for professional gamers who have that public profile, it’s clear this goes for any online gamer,” suggests BigCheeseKIT, gamer andTwitchstreamer.
Make sure you protect yourself online with thesebest identity theft protection servicesanduse thesebest security keysto add another layer to safeguard your accounts
With almost two decades of writing and reporting on Linux, Mayank Sharma would like everyone to think he’sTechRadar Pro’sexpert on the topic. Of course, he’s just as interested in other computing topics, particularly cybersecurity, cloud, containers, and coding.
Should your VPN always be on?
3 reasons why PIA fell in our best VPN rankings
Smeg Combi Steam Oven review: a multi-functional countertop oven that looks stunning and cooks well
