Mattias
11 tips on how to protect yourself while gaming
Getting fragged from behind sucks, getting malware on your machine is worse.
The researchers at Malware Labs here at Lavasoft has compiled a list of the top things you need to know to stay safe in online games and virtual worlds:
- Play only on legitimate and trustworthy game servers. Cutting corners by using free games provided by rogue servers can result in low game quality, support problems, and a higher prevalence of theft and fraud.
- Use complicated, "non-dictionary" passwords. Compose passwords that are at least 10 characters long, and are made up of a mix of letters, numbers and symbols (read Erin's great blog post for more tips on passwords).
- Use common sense when you're approached for information or given a suspect call to action. Exercise caution with e-mail and in-game messages, and never give out your account information.
- Use real-time anti-malware protection and scan your hard drive frequently, like Ad-Aware Game Edition.
- Update the definitions file of all security software constantly. This will ensure the threat database is up-to-date and that the program is prepared to catch the latest threats as they are placed into detection.
- Use Hosts file protection to help avoid redirections to malicious servers.
- Keep your operating system updated with the latest security patches, along with any other potentially high-target third party software, like Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Install and run applications that support rootkit protection. Many computer users like to run a variety of different scanners to help find infections. Still, use caution when choosing new programs in order to make sure to use reliable, respected security software.
- Keep your main web browser updated with the latest patches. Browser vulnerabilities may be used by criminals on specific gaming sites and forums to download MMORPG malware.
- Don't download files from sites you don't know well.
- Use a good e-mail service, for example Gmail. E-mail is still one of the most common ways to spread malicious code. The big webmail companies scan your e-mails and filter the bad stuff for you.
