It is no surprise that people of all ages are now turning to online gaming to find entertainment. Game developers are always evolving to ensure players can find games that perfectly align with their preferences, which keeps them returning. In a recent study published in June this year (2024), Exploding Topics found that most players were aged between 18 and 34, accounting for 38% of the total number of gamers. Overall, there are about 3.32 billion gamers.
As of 2024, this industry accounted for a market share of about $244.22 billion and was expected to reach $397.21 billion by 2029, according to a survey by Mordor Intelligence. Well, as you can see, the statistics speak for themselves – this is an industry with so much potential. And that explains why even online attackers have been drawn to this enormous industry. As such, we have been seeing trends where online gamers are turning to lucrative ways to enhance their privacy as they engage in their loved games.
Privacy Concerns in the Gaming Industry
As we have already mentioned, online privacy is a growing preference among many players. Do you actually know that up to 70% of the global population had implemented measures to protect their digital identity by February 2024, according to Statista? It definitely follows that gamers form a considerable percentage of this statistic. So, as a game provider seeking to stay relevant, you want to always ensure that you are adapting to such changing preferences.
Expectedly, there are sectors that are already providing these possibilities. In the gambling sector, for instance, no KYC casinos now allow users to participate without necessarily verifying their identity. These platforms ensure you can access gaming immediately – they enhance the registration process while protecting your privacy.
According to Signzy, up to 57% of cases resulted from account opening and account takeover. And now that IBM estimates the cost of a typical cyberattack – which takes about 280 days to discover and manage – to be about $3.86 million, you definitely do not want to suffer prey. Gaming companies are now integrating measures like facial liveness solutions to prevent fraud.
The Role of VPNs
VPNs are not a thing of yesterday. This technology was first used in the mid-90s when one of the Microsoft employees came up with PPTP. Over the years, this technology has permeated different industries, and gaming is no exception. It’s no wonder why the gaming VPN market size reached $722.59 million by August 2024 and was projected to continue growing to hit $1441.6 within the next eight years.
Why are VPNs this much popular in online gaming? You may ask. Well, according to Infosecurity Magazine, the gaming industry has witnessed a surge of 94% DDoS attacks since 2023. These attacks often happen when other gamers want to stop you from playing a particular game. They first have to access your IP address and then perform the DDoS attack. But with a VPN, you are able to hide your address, which makes it difficult for competitors to send such attacks.
Some opponents have the tendency of using your IP address and other information about your physical location to send a SWAT team on account of a fake emergency call. In the call, the opponent pranks the team of an emergency, needing them to assemble at your residence. In some countries, swatting can be as costly as spending 25 years behind the bars. Although VPNs may not completely protect from such instances, they can at least reduce the risk of exposure by hiding your IP.
Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) and Strong Passwords
Data has actually become very important in today’s world – almost everyone is seeking to understand their customers more to enhance their competitive edge. So, there is always a risk of abuse for those who use personal information to establish an online presence. As a way of guaranteeing safety, you can now use MFA and strong passwords. Other platforms also allow you to adopt a pseudonym.
Microsoft actually believes that adopting MFA can block up to 99.9% of automated attacks. On top of that, this infrastructure can prevent up to 99% of phishing attacks. Even if you accidentally click on a phishing link, extra authentication offered by MFA can help prevent penetration into your account by hackers.
Players are more likely to trust a brand that integrates MFA into their operations as this shows that you cater to their security and privacy needs. In fact, WifiTalents alleges that 61% of customers favor MFA over traditional passwords to secure their accounts. This is, however, not to discriminate the power of strong passwords, especially long ones. Are you aware that it can take up to 62 trillion times to crack a 12-character password than a 6-character password? Adding a character to your password actually makes it more difficult to crack.
