You’ve Been Hacked: A Gamer’s Guide to Cybersecurity

If you've ever played online games, you might have heard accusations of cheating or hacking from the losing side against the winning side. Accusations of cheating and/or hacking are quite commonplace (albeit out of frustration more than a legitimate complaint) and has become a part of gamer culture in the past few years. The truth is, hackers can also hack you while you're playing online games, just as they can hack your social media accounts or email or computer.

PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, amongst other online gaming services, have been successfully invaded by hackers in the past. These attacks have been more frequent and even threatened the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 launch. The digital distribution of games is just as common as brick and mortar places to get your games, these platforms (the biggest ones being Steam, Battle.net and Origin) also hold sensitive financial data and can be used by hackers to make unauthorized purchases on your behalf.

Source: http://www.gamnesia.com/journals/entry/youve-been-hacked-a-gamers-guide-to-cybersecurity#.VZWUpROqqko

Author: Loh Ee Thung

‘League of Legends’ Takes Aim At Verbal Harassment

Like many other eSports titles, popular MOBA League of Legends has an issue with player toxicity. However, League in particular has a bad reputation as its bad behavior seems to permeate the game at every level. It’s not uncommon to hear abuse from the game’s most popular streamers and even professional League of Legends players have been barred from the game for it, with Nicolaj “Incarnati0n” Jensen and Khaled “DarkwinJax” Abusagr having previously been punished.

Developer Riot Games has gone to great lengths over the past few months in an effort to keep their 67 million-strong playerbase in line by rewarding good behavior and encouraging reform when players don’t abide by the rules. Most notably, Riot recently began doling out free champion skins to players who hadn’t been banned from the game (or received a chat ban) in a set period of time and if a player wasn’t eligible for the reward then they’d be able to improve their behavior in time for the next one. Riot also nixed permanent bans for competitive players, instead giving out ‘indefinite’ bans so that players could have their case reviewed after a minimum of two competitive seasons.

Source: http://gamerant.com/league-of-legends-addressing-verbal-harassment/

Author: Loh Ee Thung

Emotional Symptoms of Computer Game Addiction

Occasionally, people addicted to computer games will be unable to access their favorite games. This may be due to vacations, family responsibilities, lost internet connections, broken computer equipment, or bans imposed by others. During these periods, computer game addicts may become very moody, irritable, depressed, or angry.

One of the most appealing aspects of online computer games is the sense of community and belonging that players often experience when they become part of a committed team, clan, or guild (a group of gamers that regularly play together and depend on each other to advance their entire team). While it is normal not to want to disappoint others, players who prioritize computer games over all other forms of social interaction may experience intense feelings of guilt when they are not able to join their team for a planned gaming session or mission.

Source: http://www.techaddiction.ca/symptoms-of-computer-game-addiction-cog.html

Author: Loh Ee Thung

Cyber-bullying and video games

Interestingly, the primary reasons for cyberbullying are most likely false ideations of “someone deserving it.” Maybe a victim published their honest thoughts in a forum that criticized a “guild” or the community of a game. Just look at the MOBA communities, specifically League of Legends and Dota. They’re extremely volatile – that’s an undeniable fact. If you run a Google search about either community, you’ll find thousands upon thousands of rants, outcries, and criticisms.

Source : http://venturebeat.com/community/2014/09/26/cyber-bullying-and-video-games/

Author : Loh Ee Thung

Dead Or Alive 5 nude mod uploaded by unethical gamer

When the developer of Dead Or Alive 5 warn user to be good and not modify and upload inappropriate content, a modder that goes by the name of "Vergil" produce the mod on the same day as the game was release on PC. Some female character cloth was striped in the particular mod.

Even though the producer of the game state that they might not be able to release another title if the gamer do not show moral and manner, much were ignored by the community.

 the image below may contain inappropriate content 

Sources: http://motherboard.vice.com/read/dead-or-alive-5-warned-players-not-to-make-nude-mods-so-they-made-nude-mods

Author: Chin Wei Qing

Cyberstalking - Gamer receive Death Threat

When the #GamerGate go viral on internet last year , there were a lot supporter and hater. Steven Williams Boogie, a popular youtube gamer, together with his family, was threaten for supporting #GamerGate. His home address was posted online, and there were threat to kill his wife and leave him to mourn.

Even though police has log the report, nothing could be done because there was no case to be solve.

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/games/62442166/gamergate-supporter-receives-death-threats

Author: Chin Wei Qing

Sexual Predator targeting youngster on online game

As online game gets more and more common within youngster, it has gradually turned into the prey ground for sexual predator. While youngster though they are making friends online, the truth is they are often stalked by predator. Predator will slowly get in contact with the victims and convince them to meetup. Although some meet up are prevented, other are followed up with carnal connection.

Even though there is no way to stop the activity, parent monitoring and advice can help to prevent such cases.

               

Sources: http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/05/stranger-in-the-console-113707.html

Author: Chin Wei Qing

Health Concern - Died playing video game

Earlier this year, a 38-year-old man died after a three-day gaming binge in the internet cafe, went unnoticed for hours until the worker try to wake him up and found him unresponsive. Authority believe he dead was due to over-exhausting.

Just because video game are so interesting and require high level of attention, people tend to forgot the basic human need while they are playing it. Cases of people found dead while playing video game were reported over the past few year.

No matter how fun a game is, gamer are advises to get up ad move around every 2 hours of gaming.

Sources: http://www.ranker.com/list/8-people-who-died-playing-video-games/autumn-spragg?format=SLIDESHOW&page=1

Author: Chin Wei Qing