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5 common mistakes that compromise your gaming console’s security

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  • 5 min read

When you’re busy babbling away all day on your console, how often do you think about how safe it is?

As crazy as it may sound, consoles are being used as potential attack points for many individuals around the world. It can do more harm than you think.

In this post, we go over five cybersecurity mistakes you might be doing with the gaming console that put you at risk.

Using the same passwords for multiple logins

5 common mistakes that compromises your gaming console's security

I know you’ve heard it a million times before. Still, I’ll repeat it don’t use the same passwords for your console account and your social media or other accounts.

Console profiles are relatively easier to hack, and if your passwords are the same, boy, you’re in trouble. Many people have been the victims of such attacks in the past, and it can have severe consequences.

What’s one more password to remember for the sake of being safe? Besides, you don’t have to log in to your console every day which takes out a couple of hurdles for lazy people.

Also read: The rise of eSports in India and is it worth becoming a professional gamer in India?

Rooting/jailbreaking your console

5 common mistakes that compromises your gaming console's security
Photo by Rohit Choudhari

I know you want to play games on the cheap, but try not to jailbreak your console for that. Jailbreaking or rooting a console essentially puts it in a developer mode and uncovers options that were not available before. In a nutshell, you’re hacking your machine.

While this allows you to play cracked games, this also opens up various vulnerabilities. Intruders can exploit these loopholes to get into your console and take control. They can stream data to and from your machine, log keystrokes, take control of any webcams that might be connected and so on.

Apart from the usual risk of killing your console while rooting it, you also uncover a huge security risk. So do yourself a favour and buy that game.

Beware of other consoles on your network

5 common mistakes that compromises your gaming console's security

Most modern organisations especially co-working spaces and tech-based companies put up consoles in their waiting/leisure areas to convey a sense of modernism and tech-savviness.

What they don’t realise is that these consoles can be used to pull off DDos and phishing attacks. Consoles can be very easy entry points to any type of network and can provide an attacker with numerous options to invade. Also, consoles communicate with other devices (smartphones, other consoles etc.) which also puts them directly in the line of fire in case of an invasion.

These types of attacks can render the organisation’s connection useless and are frequently used by criminals and even disgruntled players. Moreover, since there is almost no record of who was playing what can make tracking down the attacker really hard.

Using hacks

5 common mistakes that compromises your gaming console's security
Photo by Youcef Chenguitti

As obvious as it sounds, hacks and/or other software that claim to assist you in your game might come with a little extra something. I mean, it’s called a hack after all.

These software, especially the ones that are free, might come with trojan horses or worms that can invade and cripple your console. The possible risks involve the intruder taking over your console and eventually your network. Several types of viruses can also infect your disk and other critical components.

So play fair and stay safe.

Not updating your console frequently

5 common mistakes that compromises your gaming console's security

Almost all the attacks that we’ve mentioned above have been patched. Software security updates are periodically released, and consoles are getting safer every day.

However, if you’re still running your console on the software that came with it, you are running a significant risk. Keeping your console frequently updated can help you defend against a majority of standard attacks and viruses.

Yeah I know the updates are big and you might not be able to use your console for some time, but please just do so. You won’t regret it.

Also read: Xbox One will soon support keyboard and mouse; partners with Razer

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah Abidi

Yadullah is a Computer Science graduate who writes/edits/shoots/codes all things cybersecurity, gaming, and tech hardware. When he's not, he streams himself racing virtual cars. He's been writing and reporting on tech and cybersecurity with websites like Candid.Technology and MakeUseOf since 2018. You can contact him here: yadullahabidi@pm.me.

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