Gaming systems

Online gaming is fun for people of all ages. But if you’re not careful, a cyber criminal can quickly turn your fun and games into a big loss.

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Beat cyber criminals at their own game

More than half of all Canadians identify as gamers, whether that’s on computer, console, or mobile device.

In addition to the increasing number of players, more and more games are appearing online. Cyber criminals are taking note. To protect yourself, learn how to spot a potential cyber threat Cyber threatA threat actor, using the internet, who takes advantage of a known vulnerability in a product for the purposes of exploiting a network and the information the network carries. while you’re playing.

Risks to you

Phishing

Phishing PhishingAn attempt by a third party to solicit confidential information from an individual, group, or organization by mimicking or spoofing, a specific, usually well-known brand, usually for financial gain. messages are emails and direct messages designed to trick you into giving up information by pretending to be from a trusted source.

In an online game chat ChatAn online conversation where a person can continually read messages from others and then type and send a message reply. , a phisher PhisherA person who attempts to trick someone by phishing. Phishers attempt to trick users into disclosing personal data, such as credit card numbers, online banking credentials, and other sensitive information, which they may then use to commit fraudulent acts. might ask you for sensitive information like your credit card information in exchange for cheat codes, game hacks or even player accounts. Never click on links or provide sensitive information to an unknown person online. You may think you’re levelling up, but it could actually be a major fail. Learn more about phishing.

Malware

Malware MalwareMalicious software ("malware") designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system, without the owner's consent. Common forms of malware include computer viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, and adware. It can: • Intimidate you with scareware, which is usually a pop-up message that tells you your computer has a security problem or other false information. • Reformat the hard drive of your computer causing you to lose all your information. • Alter or delete files. • Steal sensitive information. • Send emails on your behalf. • Take control of your computer and all the software running on it. is malicious software SoftwareA computer program that provides instructions which enable the computer hardware to work. System software, such as Windows, Linux or MacOS, operate the machine itself, and applications software, such as spreadsheet or word processing programs, provide specific functionality. designed to infiltrate your computer.

You might accidentally download DownloadTransmission of data from a remote computer system onto a local computer system. malware when installing pirated games, unauthorized programs, or unsupported mods. Always be cautious when making any game-related downloads, and always download from trusted app stores. Read reviews of verified users, review app permissions and ensure you understand the terms and conditions of use before downloading anything to your device. Learn more about malware.

Stay safe while online gaming

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Keep a low profile

Don’t give away personal information, like your location, gender, or age when chatting in an online game. Consider choosing a username that doesn’t give away your identity.

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Update your game and launcher

Patches don’t just add new features to your favourite games — they can also add security fixes, too. Make sure you’ve updated to the latest version of your games before launching, especially if they have online access. Learn more about software updates.

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Shield yourself from viruses

If you game on a computer, make sure it has an up-to-date firewall FirewallA security barrier placed between two networks that controls the amount and kinds of traffic that may pass between the two. This protects local system resources from being accessed from the outside. , anti-spyware SpywareSoftware that collects personal information about you without you knowing. They often come in the form of a ‘free' download and are installed automatically with or without your consent. These are difficult to remove and can infect your computer with viruses. software, and anti-virus software Anti-virus softwareSoftware that defends against viruses, Trojans, worms and spyware. Anti-virus software uses a scanner to identify programs that are or may be malicious. Scanners can detect known viruses, previously unknown viruses and suspicious files. installed.

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Mod with caution

Always be careful when downloading add-ons, modifications, or custom content. Scan any downloaded files with your anti-virus software before launching the game.

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Use passphrases or complex passwords

Like with any account, your gaming accounts should use unique passwords or passphrases that contain upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters. Learn how to create passphrases or complex passwords.

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