Today, more and more people are using the Internet to play games, but at the same time, the number of people who have experienced being victims of online crimes is also increasing.
An online survey was conducted in Japan between August 24 and September 14, 2021, targeting 606 people aged 18 or older in Japan, and the results of the " Online Gamer Survey 2021 " were released by Norton Lifelock Inc.
The Corona Disaster Inspired People to Start Playing Online Games
The survey revealed that 54% of men, 46% of women, 35% of those aged 18-34, and 65% of those aged 35 and older enjoy playing online games, regardless of gender or age.
According to the survey, approximately one in four gamers started playing online games because of the Corona Disaster, and it seems that many of them were inspired to start playing online games.
About 60% of them felt that it had a positive impact, saying that it "helped them make new friends online.
In an age when it is difficult to meet people face-to-face, it seems that not a small number of people have turned to online in search of new communities.
About 1 in 5 have experienced a cyber-attack
At the same time that demand for online gaming has increased due to the Corona disaster, it has also become clear that more than one in five people have experienced some form of cyber attack on their devices or accounts.
Among these, the detection of malicious software on gaming devices and unauthorized access to accounts topped the list at 9% and 7%, respectively.
The survey also found that of those who have experienced some form of cyber attack against their gaming accounts, one in two ( 42%) have suffered financial damage.
Security Risks Gamers Should Be Particularly Aware of
Cybersecurity risks that gamers should be especially aware of emerged from the survey results.
Approximately one in five have installed a cheat function, 22% have installed a cheat function, and 21% have uninstalled security software to improve the quality or speed of their games, the survey revealed.
These behaviors are dangerous and can lead to cybersecurity risks, including the leakage of personal information, so we need to be careful.
The study also found that nearly two in five gamers use the same username for multiple gaming accounts and devices (42%) and the same password (41%).
When creating accounts on websites, not just for online gaming, the use of the same user name and password can also pose a cybersecurity risk.
Be prepared for cybersecurity risks.
You want to take precautions against cyber attacks, but you don't want to affect the operation of your online game.
Norton 360 for Gamers " from Norton is a powerful security software designed for gamers.
The software also includes a Game Optimizer feature that prioritizes CPU processing power for games and optimizes the CPU to prevent slowdowns, and an email and app notification system that patrols the Internet, including the Dark Web, for personal information and offers advice on how to respond when it detects a leak of a user's personal information, including gamertags. The Dark Web Monitoring feature notifies you via email and the app with advice on how to respond when it detects a leak of a user's personal information, including gamertags, to help prevent account hijacking.
While providing a security environment tailored to the user's needs, such as minimizing security notifications during games, it prevents misuse of important game accounts and leakage of personal information connected to them.
You can also control notifications by limiting notifications when you are under cyber attack, in danger, or when security features are not set to on.
Unauthorized access to the webcam is also a concern, but if a user without access rights attempts to access the webcam, it will immediately notify you and block access.
" Norton 360 for Gamers " is already available for purchase for 7,680 yen (tax included) for up to three units for one year.
It can be purchased from the official Norton website or from online stores such as electronics retailers.
The product is compatible with Windows,Mac,Android, andiOS operating systems, but there are restrictions on which operating systems are supported depending on the functions of the product, so please consider the usage and your environment when purchasing.
With the increasing number of cyber-attacks, it is a good idea to take a fresh look at your security.