Top Cybersecurity Threats Looming Over the eSport Industry

Cybersecurity issues have become more dangerous for the eSport industry. These threats are more critical for this sector than ever. The exponential growth of the business has made it a favorite hotspot for cyber criminals. That is why, whether you are a professional gamer or an industry expert, you must watch out for various dangers that impact you financially and reputationally.

With that said, it is important to know which types of cyber threats are more common for eSport organizations and players. DDoS attacks come at the top of the list when talking about cybersecurity threats. Similarly, you might also experience an increase in hacking activities. Both of these risks can lead to substantial monetary and resource losses.

Keep scrolling if you find this topic relevant. Today, we will talk about the top cybersecurity threats looming over the eSport industry.

6 Common Cyber Threats for the eSport Industry

We have seen a surge in the demand for eSport services in the post-COVID era. Remember, an increase in the growth of a sector also comes with eminent dangers like cybersecurity issues. For the online gaming sector, the top dangers include account takeovers, identity theft, social engineering, and ransomware attacks.

Let’s explore the six common cyber threats for the eSport industry:

1.      DDoS Attacks

Are you considering hosting an eSport event? Then you must be aware of an impending threat that may come your way. We are talking about Distributed Denial of Service attacks. Otherwise known as DDoS attacks, these incidents happen when someone tries to overwhelm the gaming server with a high traffic volume.

You might have to face multiple consequences if a malicious actor succeeds in launching DDoS attacks. These outcomes can vary from canceled events to reputational damage and disrupted gameplays. Combating such threats requires a specific skill set that only a cybersecurity expert can provide.

You can contact professionals at Help AG to ensure a comprehensive safeguard against Distributed Denial of Service attacks.

2.      Hacking

Hackers have zeroed in on the online gaming platforms. These channels serve as the goldmine of confidential data, such as personal information and financial records. Even the resources of many platforms are highly valued in the market. That is why gaming organizations should be careful about hacking incidents.

Cheating hacks can also be the biggest problem. These exploits include speed hacks, aimbots, and wallhacks. Issues like these can potentially deprive professional players of their competitive edge. For this reason, if cheating hacks happen more frequently, it can tarnish the image of an eSport company.

3.      Account Takeovers

Sometimes, the in-game assets of a player can exceed thousands of dollars worth. Particularly platforms like World of Warcraft and Call of Duty serve as the goldmine of these valuable resources. This can allure cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to a player’s account and take over it.

Once such an incident happens, the hijacked account can then be sold on the black market. Account takeovers can also result in sabotaging a contestant’s reputation, damaging their account, and even cheating during an event. The consequences are much worse for the respective gaming organization.

4.      Identity Theft

A report by Experian shows that the risk of identity theft has exponentially increased in the online gaming sector. Cybercriminals look for potential prey and can opt to steal their identity for varying sinister agendas. The problem can be more detrimental for organizations if the theft ID is used for serious crimes.

So, which feature in the gameplay can facilitate these attacks? Research shows that chat functions can increase the risk of identity theft issues. A stranger can engage with a player and trick them into providing personally identifiable information. These include names, addresses, phone numbers, and other sensitive records.

5.      Social Engineering

Using psychological tactics to entrap a player is called social engineering. Malicious actors leverage this method to reach their nefarious goals. How do they do so? They use psychological and emotional manipulation as a tool. The affected person might end up sharing their confidential data.

There are two ways social engineering can happen in the eSport industry. The most common one is impersonation. A cybercriminal can represent themselves as a trusted figure like an individual from customer support or a game developer. The other technique is threatening a gamer by sending messages or emails.

6.      Malware and Ransomware Attacks

Last but not least, malware and ransomware attacks are also among the six common cyber threats for the eSport industry. Although terms might seem similar to you, they have some distinctions. Malware infections are used to compromise a gamer’s account or device to obtain their personal data.

Comparatively, ransomware tools help encrypt a player’s data and assets. The encrypted records then can be leveraged to demand ransom from the affected individual. Gamers can keep these attacks at bay by preferring original versions over free or cheaper ones. Organizations, on the other hand, can hire cybersecurity experts to avoid these threats.

Protect Your eSport Organization from These Threats

In the landscaping of online gaming, the risk of different cybersecurity incidents has increased. These include DDoS attacks, social engineering, account takeovers, identity theft, and ransomware attacks. Contact a reputable cybersecurity company now to protect your eSport organization from these threats.