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From humble beginnings as a niche hobby relegated to small gaming cafes and basements, eSports has grown into a huge affair where gamers compete for million-dollar prizes and prestigious titles. As of 2024, the global eSports industry is worth $4.3 billion, up from just $1.2 billion in 2017. Major eSports tournaments now fill virtual arenas and stadiums, with millions of viewers tuning in.

Amid the excitement and fanfare, however, a crucial aspect often gets overlooked – cybersecurity. Maintaining integrity and security in these virtual environments has become increasingly vital.

From the potential for game-altering hacks and cheats to the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks, the challenges facing the industry are growing more complex by the day.

Understanding the Cybersecurity Threats in eSports

The eSports industry’s rapid growth, lucrative prize pools, and massive online viewership have made it an attractive target for cybercriminals and unscrupulous actors seeking to disrupt events, compromise systems, or gain an unfair advantage.

Additionally, some eSports organizations like FaZe Clan are experiencing surges on the stock market, making them even more attractive targets than, let’s say, stealing data from individual players.

To begin with, let’s go through the primary cybersecurity threats plaguing the world of eSports:

DDoS Attacks

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks involve sending an influx of malicious traffic to a network or server, overwhelming it and making it unable to respond to legitimate requests, effectively taking it offline.

In eSports, DDoS attacks can disrupt live tournaments, causing delays, disconnections, and frustration for players and viewers alike.

These can also target individual players, knocking them offline during crucial matches. For instance, in 2023, a DDoS attack on the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual eSports event kicked out Max Verstappen, who was leading the race. Activision Blizzard was also hit with multiple DDoS attacks in 2020, affecting several of its game titles, including Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft.

Account Hijacking

Account hijacking involves unauthorized access to a player’s account, typically through phishing, keylogging, or exploiting security vulnerabilities.

Hijacked accounts can be used for cheating, sabotage, or even sold on the black market, putting players at risk of financial loss and reputational damage. In 2019, for example, some professional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players had their accounts hijacked, leading to the loss of in-game assets worth thousands of dollars.

Cheating Hacks and Exploits

Cheating hacks and exploits, such as aimbots, wallhacks, and speed hacks, undermine the principles of fair play and competitive integrity, tarnishing the reputation of eSports and eroding trust in the gaming community.

The popularity of these exploits has even given rise to cheating software in the form of platforms as a service (PaaS), with brands like NeverLose and Iniuria offering entire suites of cheating services, from aim assistance to more devious tools.

Cheating scandals have rocked various eSports titles, raising concerns about the prevalence of such practices and the need for robust anti-cheat measures. For example, early this year, a cheating scandal emerged during the North American Finals of Apex Legends as players encountered widespread aimbots and wallhacks, prompting the organizers to postpone the event.

Malware and Ransomware Attacks

Malware and ransomware attacks pose huge risks to gaming platforms, tournament systems, and organizers’ networks.

Ransomware attacks can be especially devastating for small eSports teams. Obviously, the likes of G2, Team Liquid, and other Tier 1 teams in DOTA, CS2, and LoL certainly have the means to protect their players and strategies. However, many lower-ranked squads operate like traditional small businesses, using third-party tools to merge PDF files, record scrims, and share sensitive data, which can make them especially vulnerable to cybercriminals.

However, malware and ransom attacks aren’t isolated to eSports teams; even gaming platforms often fall victim.

For instance, in 2017, the popular gaming platform Steam was targeted by a malware campaign aimed at stealing user credentials and financial information, highlighting the vulnerability of these platforms.

Consequences of Cybersecurity Breaches

The cost of securing compromised systems and compensating affected customers can run into millions. Moreover, organizers face potential revenue losses from disrupted tournaments and decreased sponsorships.

Meanwhile, players could lose valuable in-game assets or income streams, particularly if their accounts are hijacked. For instance, when Max Verstapen was knocked out of a tournament by a DDoS attack, he lost out on $250,000 in potential winnings despite leading in the game before the attack.

The public exposure of cheating scandals, match-fixing allegations, or data breaches can erode fan trust and tarnish the image of teams, players, and the entire eSports ecosystem. This could lead to diminished sponsorship opportunities and a decline in viewership and engagement.

The competitive spirit and fair play principles that are the foundation of eSports competitions could also be called into question, casting doubt on the legitimacy of results and sowing discord within the gaming community.

This erosion of trust and integrity could deter new players, sponsors, and fans from engaging with the industry, ultimately stunting its growth and development.

Protecting the Virtual Battlefield

With the growing threat of cyber attacks, the eSports industry needs to implement proactive strategies to safeguard the integrity and security of the virtual battlefield.

Here are some ideas on what players, platforms, and tournament organizers can do to stay ahead of cybercriminals.

Strategies for Players

Players must prioritize account security by implementing strong, unique passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and being cautious of social engineering attacks like phishing attempts or suspicious links. Regular password changes and monitoring for unauthorized access can help mitigate the risk of account hijacking.

It’s also important for players to keep gaming hardware and software up-to-date with the latest security patches and use reputable anti-virus and anti-malware solutions to protect themselves against malicious code and exploits.

Finally, players need to stay cautious about sharing personal information online and remain vigilant for suspicious activities or attempts to gather sensitive data. They should always verify sources before providing sensitive details or downloading unfamiliar files.

Measures for Platforms and Tournament Organizers

Gaming platforms and tournament organizers should invest in robust cybersecurity frameworks, including secure network infrastructure, regular security audits, encryption of sensitive data, network monitoring, API pen-testing tools, and intrusion detection systems to detect unusual activities.

In the event of a cybersecurity breach, they should have well-defined incident response and mitigation plans in place. These plans should outline clear procedures for containing and mitigating the impact of an attack to minimize losses, as well as communication strategies to keep stakeholders informed and maintain transparency.

It’s also important to think about compliance with data protection regulations. For instance, if there are in-game purchases, the game publisher/developer should use PCI-compliant hosting to keep users’ financial data safe. With the recent Helldivers 2 scandal bringing Sony’s previous data leaks to light, more and more players are getting skeptical of sharing their data with game publishers who don’t care about their privacy.

Platforms and organizers should also cultivate strong partnerships with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies who can provide valuable insights, resources, and support in combating cyber threats. Regular threat intelligence sharing and collaborative efforts can help them stay ahead of evolving cyber risks and enhance the overall security of the eSports industry.

Wrapping Up

Unfortunately, the consequences of successful cyber attacks extend far beyond financial losses for organizations and players. They strike at the very heart of what makes eSports so compelling – the principles of fair play, skill, and competitive spirit that have drawn millions of fans to this rapidly evolving form of entertainment. Only by addressing the hidden risks lurking in the shadows of this virtual world can we truly unleash the full potential of eSports and preserve the essence of what makes it so enthralling – a celebration of skill, competition, and the unifying power of play.