Ibai Llanos, The Grefg, El Rubius, Valkyrae … With the domestication of new technologies and the frequent use of the internet in all aspects of our lives, it is very common for children, adolescents and even adults to spend part of their free time playing video games, watching YouTube videos or following the communicators of the digital age on different social networks.
Whether we are for or against this type of influencers, we must admit that they are the new idols, especially of the youngest. Moving exorbitant sums of money in their wake.
2021 has been the key year for gamers or video game players, after having been declared an Olympic sport to compete in different disciplines through the screen (what is called E-Sports). Thus celebrating last June, the first Virtual Olympics, along with the conventional ones.
But all fun has its risks, no matter how secure it may seem. That is why we want to remind you of the following security tips ordered by priority:
- Having an antivirus not only installed, but also duly updated:This will be the only way to avoid all kinds of attacks, infections or intrusions on our computers, mobile phones and game consoles, which we as users cannot perceive during use.
- Create an email address only for games: We completely discourage you or your children from using your personal email address, much less the professional one, to register for online gaming platforms or applications.
- Enter personal data only on platforms, games and official pages: What may seem like a game can also be the prelude to a scam or information theft (phishing / pharming), so it is very important to verify that the medium in which We enter our data is secure and it is the official one.
- Use unique passwords other than personal or professional keys and activate the two-step verification (double authentication factor): This is the only way to protect any type of account. Thus, any adjustment of certain configurations, such as changing the means of payment or our password, must be validated through a security code that we receive by other means (SMS or E-Mail).
- Activate the parental control: On certain platforms and especially on video game consoles, there is the option to activate this configuration in the settings, to limit the child’s activity and protect them from inappropriate content or block certain options, such as online payment.
- Avoid linking a means of payment to them: The greatest danger in this regard is faced by adolescents or even children, because they can enter the credit card data or even link it automatically if it is registered on the mobile. Especially if they use their parents’ devices (computer, mobile, tablet).