Security & Privacy when Gaming

The guide I wish I had when starting out

Everything about safety and privacy while gaming

What You'll Learn

  • Common error fixes
  • Performance solutions
  • Compatibility

Safety Guide

Passwords and accounts

I used to reuse the same password everywhere because it was convenient. Then I got hacked once, and that was enough to change my whole approach. Now every account I own has a unique password, and I use 2FA wherever possible. It's extra work at the start, but it saves you from losing everything later. My example shows what happens when you cut corners, it's better to build good habits before something goes wrong.

Safe downloads

I don't download apps often, but when I do, I only use the official sites. Third party sites can inject their own "special code" into installers, and you won't even notice until it's too late. Before installing anything I look up what people say about it, if there are reports of malware or stolen accounts, I skip it. I've also used sandboxes and test environments many times. Even if a friend sends me a file or a link, I still double check it. Better safe than sorry.

Scams and phishing

Scam messages are everywhere. Discord, in-game, even emails. On my server, I disabled links completely because I don't want anyone falling for a fake link. It's a small inconvenience, but it keeps people safe. For me, spotting scams usually comes down to the "robotic feel", perfect punctuation, weird symbols like "–" (alt + 1050) or "—" (alt + 0151), or just odd wording. And if I don't recognize the site mentioned, I look it up before clicking anything and even then i prefer to type the link manually than clicking it but verify.

Privacy

I like to keep my real info to myself. Most of the people I talk to online don't know my real name, surname, or age. Staying anonymous just makes it harder for anyone to connect the dots. If you overshare even small stuff, like a birthday or a picture, people can start figuring out who you really are. That's why I stick to my “gaming persona”, a fake name, some made-up interests, and that's it. It keeps things simple and safe.

General advice

My biggest tip? Don't give out personal details. Seriously. Make up a persona if you want, name, hobbies, whatever, and keep your real info separate. But don't forget who you told; mixing identities can backfire and accidentally reveal stuff you didn't mean to, so keep it simple. Make sure that your gaming persona doesn't have unique interests; "I like to listen to music" is a really common interest, so it won't be helpful in narrowing down any of your info. Trust me, mixing up your personas and people trying to find out who you really are isn't a fun thing if you like to stay anonymous.

Community tips

Many people stick to the basics: unique passwords, 2FA, and being careful with downloads. But a lot of people still reuse the same password everywhere or download anything they see without checking if it's from the official site. That kind of behavior can have serious consequences, and trust me, they won't be fun if it happens when you're older. Losing access to your money, email, or important files is a huge loss at any age. Having a password that just meets the bare minimum requirements, or something simple like a name and a year, isn't nearly as secure as people think. Keeping your personal info private is essential. Some smart tips I've seen: don't save card info on websites if you can avoid it, and don't believe stuff that is too good to be true and/or offers money in return, they almost always turn out to be scams. I'm not saying that you must watch every single step you make and question your own decisions. I'm just saying that taking procaution is a really good in the long run.