2024 Virginia Cybersecurity Education Conference

According to a study published by the United Nations in 2022, online gaming, engaged in by 91% of children aged 3-15, also presents opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit trust through unmoderated features. This can lead to potential data extraction or the introduction of malicious files. Also, Globally, gaming revenue amounts to an estimated $242.39 billion, with almost half of that generated by the Asia Pacific. By the year 2030, this worldwide total is expected to more than double to $583.69 billion. Without looking at cybersecurity posture and mindset at multiple levels, the online gaming industry is increasingly vulnerable to online cybercriminals. Unfortunately, cybercrime is not just about loss of revenue, but also could lead to loss of life when bad actors use online gaming platforms as a mechanism for human-trafficking and espionage. This presentation aims to give a unique, holistic introductory overview of several key areas when the intersection between online gaming and cybersecurity is examined.