The digital casino sector across the world, has changed a lot with technology, for instance, today, players can gamble in slots using cryptocurrencies, while that was impossible in the past.
Another key event is taking place in the background concurrently with the fascinating innovation and improvements. Each year, several cyberattacks target slots games. The number of hackers that employ untraceable methods to obtain sensitive information increases as the sector expands. They are successfully breaching casino security systems by using app-based cyber weapons to compromise data through signal manipulation.
Recent cyberattack reports demonstrate why slot operators’ primary focus should be cybersecurity. Since 2019, professional Chinese hackers have officially acknowledged breaking into gaming websites. How slots games operators are protecting their players? What measurements could be taken to mitigate cyberattacks in slots games? This article will enlighten you about the risks we are facing in the online gambling industry and how to address the situation.
Online Slots Games – Type Of Attacks
Hackers have been reported to use a variety of known attack methods against online gambling sites. Others entail the theft of money or client information. We’ve included some of the more typical ones below.
1.    Incorporating SQL
In this scenario, hackers gain access to user information, gameplay techniques, and gamers’ creative works. In order to obtain the database server and edit, delete, or add data, they feed infected SQL queries. Attacks that seize control of an account provide hackers the opportunity to view player profiles without authorization, commit payment or identity fraud, or sell their resources for their own benefit.
2.    DDoS Attacks
DDoS assaults cause unexpected traffic spikes and lengthy load times, which cause gamers to lose confidence in the slots operator and switch to its rivals. Scarping is the practice of deploying bots to steal data from websites, databases, and APIs in order to take advantage of gambling operations. In addition, utilizing bots to expedite attacks results in a loss of subscription income and endangers the reputation of the operator.
5 Safety Features That Slots Operators Use To Protect Their Customers
1.    Using HTTPS For Website
Utilizing HTTPS protection is the very first step most online casinos take to secure their websites from hackers. HTTPS establishes secure communication between a casino’s servers and its clients’ browsers using Secure Socket Layer (SSL). Your data is kept encrypted throughout the process when you browse a casino site that uses HTTPS. This protects it from hackers, stalkers, and digital spies. An HTTP website, in contrast, transfers your personal data in an open manner. Hackers may take advantage of these vulnerabilities.
Many jurisdictions, like the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, and Curacao Gambling Board, to name a few, need HTTPS as a condition of obtaining a license. This explains why it’s imperative to constantly play at legal casinos.
2.    Partnership With Safe Providers
Casinos on the internet don’t operate in a vacuum. They collaborate with several different outside companies. Start with the creators of video games. The typical online casino offers over 300 games including over a dozen different software developers. To guarantee the safety of their games, all these providers are required to adhere to strict security regulations. In order to ensure secure financial transactions, casino operators also collaborate with recognized payment processors. These include global companies like PayPal, Visa, and MasterCard.
3.    PCI DSS Certified
A security certificate called PCI DSS is available to online merchants who process payments. This category includes online casinos. PCI DSS certification is required in the UK. It’s optional in some places but strongly advised.
A PCI DSS certification essentially serves as evidence that online gambling Slots games encrypt customer data. They also employ antivirus software to protect themselves from espionage, viruses, malware, ransomware, worms, and DDoS assaults. They also employ firewalls to stop unauthorized traffic.
4.    Securing User Accounts
For account protection, almost every online casino offers login scripts. Before creating an account with your phone number or email address, you cannot gamble. Then, to restrict account access, you must set up a special password. Most websites allowed you to use virtually any account password decade ago. To generate strong passwords today, you must combine letters, numbers, and special characters. They may also require you to turn on 2-factor authentication for additional security. In two-factor authentication, a code is used to grant account access. It is used in conjunction with a password and is delivered to your email address or phone number.
5.    Educating Employees
According to CNBC, an employee mistake accounted for about 47% of all cyberattacks during the past five years. A successful phishing attempt, the loss of a gadget like a laptop, or a failure to employ security tools such as antivirus software or virtual private networks could all be contributing factors. Many online organizations now require their employees to complete online security training in order to prevent cyberattacks caused by their employees. For instance, they could advise their field personnel to utilize VPNs or stay away from public WiFi. The finest casinos use interactive workshops to teach their staff. This enables kids to learn how malware and hazardous websites are identified, as well as how phishing scams operate.
Bonus Point: Automatic Backups
In general, backups allow online casinos to continue to function even while some of the servers are down. Backups also enable operators to carry on with their daily operations with little inconvenience if these servers sustain total damage. Despite this, there are many more advantages to backing up user databases.
An offline backup seems to be the only reliable method for regaining access to the systems and data following a significant breach in terms of cyberattack defense. On the other hand, automatic backups enable casino players to keep playing with little interruption. Performance is unaffected, and they help you save time. Additionally, they offer safe remote file sharing. The data is stored on safe servers as a backup. Employees who require this data can therefore transfer it while it is encrypted to their computers.
Final Thoughts
Cybercriminals target any form of online service. Given the magnitude of the sector and the sums of money players invest in it, the possibility of assault is considerably larger for online casinos. As a result, Slots operators have a strong incentive to offer top-notch security measures that shield users from current dangers. In addition to player safety, brand reputation is also being safeguarded. Let us know if you have more to add to the list of how slots operators protect their players from cyberattacks.