While playing online games and chatting with other gamers over chat or server, you think it’s private, but they often aren’t. Sharing personal information like your phone number, home address, or photos can expose you to serious risks. It is important to remain cautious, even when you think you are communicating with someone you know as scammers usually impersonate trusted contacts to deceive you.
Risks of Sharing Personal Information Online:
- Identity Theft: Stolen information can be used to impersonate you for fraud.
- Stalking: Revealing your location or routine can make you a target.
- Harassment and Sextortion: Shared photos can be exploited for threats or blackmail.
- Scamming: Scammers may use personal details to trick you into sharing sensitive data to steal game items or break into your PC.
- Doxxing: Bad actors may expose and misuse your private data to harm or humiliate you.
- Deepfake: Photos from social media, or shared over games can be manipulated using AI to create explicit images, leading to harassment or blackmail.
Tips for Protecting Your Privacy:
- Limit sharing personal details about your life, including location or routine.
- Avoid sharing sensitive information with new contacts, even if someone seems trustworthy.
- Bad actors can use AI to create fake accounts to trick gamers into sharing sensitive data or explicit content.
- If a friend contacts you and requests personal information, confirm their identity through a different, trusted method.