The global gaming industry has exploded under lockdown when it was already the third most popular entertainment genre in the world after books and gambling. Unfortunately, more people playing games professionally or for leisure online has exposed the ease with which gaming consoles can be hacked, especially by fellow gamers with an axe to grind.
Online games are played on PCs, mobile phones and dedicated gaming consoles. When it comes to the latter, it is easy to forget that consoles are in fact powerful computers that can be used to invade privacy, harm targeted gamers emotionally, professionally and financially, and even disrupt the network of the gamer’s Internet Service Provider (ISP).
“Our advice to gamers is to be courteous and respectful online. Do not trade insults with fellow gamers under the assumption that online anonymity is always guaranteed. Smart hackers can indeed find out the real-world identity of other gamers and this could be dangerous,” says André van der Walt, chairman of Ispa.
Gaming and e-sports are growing fast in South Africa, driven by the unprecedented events of this year and also by South Africa’s plunging data prices and steadily improving home and business fibre access.
