The Online Gamer's Guideline to Personal Safety

Probably one of the most popular forms of after-school or -work activity

, online gaming over the past couple of years, has been employed by numerous employees and students, all over the globe, to relieve themselves of the stress that daily living brings.

According to a study conducted by NPD Group that was featured on GamePro Magazine, the number of online games and gamers around the world are consistently rising. A similar research released by Next-Gen.biz reveals that 62% of the world's gamers play online games with 42% of the figure being female.

"Online gaming is enjoyed by a diverse group of players," explains Anita Frazier, an industry analyst for the NPD Group. "The sheer variety of content and ease of access makes online gaming attractive to a much larger demographic than what we typically see in retail."

Posing great dangers to consumers, the rise in number of online games has attracted numerous culprits who intend to take advantage of the industry to pry on people's lives or steal identities. The following are some helpful guidelines that I've come up with to help gamers avoid finding themselves caught in a pickle.

Be careful on what you are clicking. Casual gaming online may seem harmless at first but that should not stop you from being vigilant at all times. As much as possible, stick to trustworthy online gaming websites for your own security.

Gamers should be extra careful when talking to people on sites that offer online chatting with other gamers. Although it is easy to get comfy with people who share the same interests as you do, remember that these are people that you don't really know. When being friendly with anyone on the site, always keep your mom's wise words in mind "Don't talk to strangers."

Online games on social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace present safety problems to gamers as well. These sites require you to allow them to access your profile thus handing out personal information you've stated online.

The key to keeping yourself away from harm is to outsmart these culprits in their own game. Clicking a button may seem easier than researching but the benefits reap off more. It can save you a lot if you do some background check on the company that develops and publishes the game you intend to play. Some game developers scam their consumers by offering them misleading in-game benefits.

"Users are offered in-game currency if they sign up to receive a free learning CD from Video Professor," explains Michael Arrington of TechCrunch.com. "The user is told they pay nothing except a $10 shipping charge. But the fine print, on a different page from checkout, tells them they are really getting a whole set of CDs and will be billed $189.95 unless they return them."

Hence, being aware and well-informed of what and who you are dealing with online will ensure your security and comfort as a user.

The Online Gamer's Guideline to Personal Safety

By: gamehouse

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