Every day, more people are playing on the internet. In fact, one of the most common debates in the video game industry is whether offline modes – i.e. traditional games where one player goes against the game’s world – are losing out to online modes, where players are pitted against each other.

The unstoppable boom of the second kind is undeniable, and the ultimate proof is the professionalization of what is popularly known as eSports. So, if you regularly play online, this article will definitely interest you: four tips for playing safely.

Set a good password

It may seem really stupid, but it’s not. Major virtual security companies once again confirmed 123456 as the most commonly used password by users around the world. And no, it’s not very safe to have this password for your personal account if you regularly play video games.

Remember to have a password on different platforms that is both easy to remember, as well as complex. How to manage that? Well, it’s as simple as combining uppercase letters, lowercase letters and some numbers (your mother’s maiden name with a few uppercase letters and her date of birth, for example, and you’ve got a magnificent combination). With this access, not only can you play your games online, but you also can enter the title catalog on platforms like Steam and Origin.

A good antivirus

If you think viruses only are prolific on web pages or unusual software, you’re wrong. It’s important to have your antivirus updated with the latest version. This way, you won’t run any unnecessary risk when playing, as nobody can steal your identity and all your data will be safe for the future.

Careful when you shop…

With the proliferation of online games, new business models have also emerged in video games. We’re talking about, of course, extra items and content to boost the main features of multiplayer modes.

Although all this content can be bought legally through official game sites, there are numerous web pages dedicated to commercializing this content. What’s the problem? Well, these sites don’t always meet quality standards and it’s been proven that many codes may even be stolen. Careful when you buy extra content: you get what you pay for.

And careful when giving out your data

This point goes hand-in-hand with the previous one: be very careful when giving out your data. Many hackers recreate web pages exactly like the originals, so the most unsuspecting fall into their traps. When entering a site, if they ask for data like a security code, date of birth or uncommon details beyond the usual username and password, don’t trust that web page (and rightly so).

Companies are reporting more and more cases of users who lose all their cards, items, utensils and an endless string of products after entering web pages that offer unofficial prizes.