Gamers are increasingly becoming targets for online criminals.
Several IT companies testify to this – and warn that young people are especially vulnerable.
– They are easier to convince with arguments that if you log in to this site, you get free game currency, says Kevin Gosschalk, CEO and founder of the American IT security company Arkose Labs to TT.
Several IT companies testify that cybercriminals increasingly target gamers in search of money. Games with large player bases are singled out as the main target. Minecraft is an example.
– Although many gamers are young, there is a lot of money here. They buy skins and weapons for money, and use them as a virtual currency, says Anders Nilsson, IT security expert at ESET Nordic to TT.
“Typical scam”
Among other things, so-called phishing attacks are used, which involve getting the recipient to click on a link that either installs malicious code – or gets the person to give up sensitive information. Often it is aimed at young people.
– The young are not as sharp, they are easier to convince with arguments that if you log in to this site, you will get free game currency. It is the typical scam that is sent out to as many people as possible, says Kevin Gosschalk, CEO and founder of the American IT security company Arkose Labs to TT.
The perpetrators often use either game-related discussion forms or the game’s built-in chat. The goal may be to access credit card information – but the game account itself may also be a high priority.
– If it’s an account where you have a game library, they can try to sell the account to others, the more games you have, the more valuable, says Kevin Gosschalk.
That way you avoid being cheated
To avoid falling victim to online scammers, there are several things you can do. Avoiding clicking on unknown links, choosing large and well-known modifications to the game and not downloading pirated copies are some examples.
But if the accident should still happen, it is important to dare to tell. If you are lucky, the card can be blocked in time.
– If you have installed something, it is more difficult, but in Windows (and Mac OS) there is a recovery function that allows you to back up the operating system from a time before you installed, then you are quite safe, says Måns Jonasson, internet expert at the Internet Foundation to TT.