If you play online games, you may be monitored.
Privacy issues may be inherent in the design of the game itself, such as games that require access to a webcam or microphone. Some companies sell any information they collect about you to advertisers, while others collect a lot of data for their own purposes.
It's hard to know if your data is secure on the game company's servers, as the previous data breach highlighted.
While you may be happy to share some data with a company, other information can be used to build a profile of your habits and personality. It can then be sold to advertisers who bombard you with unwanted ads, or worse, it can be leaked in data leaks and used to steal your identity. Unfortunately, many bad actors are happy to take advantage of this opportunity.
How to improve your online game privacy
The good news is that if you take online game privacy seriously, you can do many things to ensure security:
Take the same precautions as preventing data leakage: This includes using strong passwords, avoiding companies with bad security records, and limiting the amount of information you provide.
Find and leverage a trusted VPN provider that will not contain malware or put your information at risk, such as TikVPN.
Avoid pirated games from torrents. These can save you money (at least initially), but also make you more vulnerable to malware and other online game privacy leaks.
Be careful with cheating passwords. Sometimes these software can run malware that can harm your device.
Pay attention to phishing attacks, including in-game. If someone you don't know sends you links or attachments, don't click or open them.
In your account, locate the privacy settings and configure them to maximize your privacy, such as turning off location tracking. In security settings, enable two factor authentication, if available.