Today marks the 25th anniversary of the European launch of Sony’s PlayStation – the first console to sell over 100 million units. In its 25 years of existence, the PlayStation has seen five different consoles, thousands of different games, and over 100 million users. However, it has been no stranger to cybersecurity issues during this time. From DDoS attacks taking the PlayStation Network offline, to multiple breaches exposing millions of users’ personal data, PlayStation has weathered countless cyber storms. The most recent of these is increased scrutiny over video game loot boxes, which the UK Government fear could encourage gambling amongst young people.
As online gaming increases, so does the risk of associated cyberattacks. Gaming communities have long been known as breeding grounds for hackers, and are often a place where younger players learn their craft and experiment, which is only set to increase with more young people online more than ever. Furthermore, the data held by these companies are also highly sought after by threat actors and remain at constant risk of compromise.
Most recently, we have seen increasing concerns around loot boxes acting as entry-level gambling – which can be extremely inviting and addictive to gamers. Younger players need to be and feel safe online, and parents also need to know they are protected. The government needs to continue to work with schools and parents in maintaining their safety and security online.