Archives - Online Gaming


New gaming console privacy settings: What to change before you start playing online

A new gaming console makes it tempting to jump straight into a game, but spend five minutes reviewing the privacy settings first. Modern consoles function like social networks: profiles can reveal when you are online, what you are playing, your gaming history, friends, achievements, and shared content. Setting your profile to Friends Only is a […]

Don’t use your real name in online gaming to protect your identity

Online gaming is supposed to be fun, social, and competitive. But your gaming profile can also reveal personal information if you use your real name, a familiar nickname, your birth year, your school name, your town, or a profile picture that clearly connects back to your offline identity. A safer approach is simple: use a […]

Talk to your child about in-game currency before the next accidental purchase

Online games make it easy for kids to play, compete, customize characters, and unlock new items. Many games also make it very easy to spend real money through premium currency, battle passes, loot boxes, skins, upgrades, and limited-time offers. Before your child starts a new game, have one simple conversation: some game money is pretend, […]

Free game download on a forum? It could be malware: How to avoid fake game files, crypto miners, and password stealers

That “free” game link in a forum thread, Discord post, or torrent comment might look like a bargain, but it can easily turn into a security problem. Cybercriminals routinely hide malware inside cracked games, repacks, fake mods, and unofficial installers, then rely on curiosity and urgency to get people to run the files. Kaspersky reported […]

How to report harassment and spam while gaming online to stay safer

Online gaming should be fun, competitive, and social—not a place where harassment, spam, scams, or abusive messages ruin the experience. Whether you’re playing on console, PC, or mobile, reporting bad behavior helps protect you and improves the gaming community for everyone. Why reporting harassment in games matters Harassment in online games is more common than […]

Why you should enable parental controls on game consoles before your child starts playing

Game console parental controls do a lot more than block mature content. They also help you manage screen time, reduce unwanted online interactions, and — this part often gets overlooked — protect your payment information from accidental or impulsive purchases. On modern consoles, those controls are built right into the settings menu, and they’re worth […]