MMO games should be about having fun, not dealing with abuse, sexism, and cyber threats on a daily basis. Yet that’s how things go for many players – especially gamer girls. Whether we’re talking about popular streamers or your average Jane, the experience is the same – they don’t feel safe while gaming online.
What’s the solution then? Making gaming more inclusive and safer, obviously. But that doesn’t happen overnight. Until MMO games become safer for gamer girls, here’s what you can do to protect yourself:
1. Always Report Abuse
Most MMO games have an in-game system that lets you report abusive players. Never hesitate to use it. An admin or GM might not respond instantly, but they will eventually see your reports. And if you report the player many times, they’re more likely to get noticed.
Most games have an online guide that shows you how to report abusive players. Make sure you check it out before you start playing the game.
And while you’re at it, take a screenshot of the abusive comments and messages you receive. It always pays off to have proof when you report someone.
2. Use a VPN
VPNs are online services that hide your IP address and encrypt your traffic. They’re very simple to use – you just subscribe to a VPN provider, download and install and app, and use the app to connect to a VPN server. Then, you just play any games as you normally would. Except you get more security.
For one, the VPN hides your IP, meaning sore losers can’t target you with DoS/DDoS attacks (they can’t use the IP to find your network). That means you can’t be forced offline whenever someone has it out for you.
Another perk of hiding your IP is that creepy stalkers can’t use it to find personal information about you, specifically:
- Where you’re from (country and city).
- What your ZIP code is.
- Who your ISP is.
Also, keeping your IP hidden means nobody can involve you in Swatting – a “prank” where someone calls emergency law enforcement to your location under false pretenses (like a hostage situation or a bomb threat). It’s obvious to see how things can go wrong (people have died due to Swatting).
Finally, by encrypting your traffic, VPNs protect you from eavesdropping when you use unsecured WiFi (like your favorite coffee shop’s free network). If hackers try to monitor your data, they’ll only see gibberish. That kind of security can stop someone from getting their hands on your account login credentials.
There are many VPNs on the market, but we suggest checking out ExpressVPN. It has very fast speeds, great security, it’s simple to use, and it has a no-questions-asked 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. Don’t Communicate with Trolls
Many trolls hurl abusive insults your way to upset you – sometimes to the point where they make you quit or stop playing the game.
It’s always best to ignore their messages and never reply. Just report them and wait for them to get a ban. If you interact with them, they’ll only do their best to further annoy or scare you. You might even lose your temper and start insulting them. If you do that, they might screenshot your insults and use them to report you!
4. Use Antivirus Programs
Cybercriminals often use malware to take over people’s game accounts and even devices (to steal personal information or credit card details). They can spam malicious links in the game chat or send you emails pretending to be a support rep from the game you’re playing.
You should obviously ignore messages like that. But even if you’re very careful, you might make a mistake and interact with a malware-infected site or file. That’s why you need antivirus protection. Even if you slip up, the software will prevent any malware infection. It will even block connections to malicious links.
5. Use a Gender-Neutral Name
It’s not an ideal solution, but it sometimes help. Until the game you’re playing becomes safer for gamer girls, use a gender-neutral name
That way, abusive players will be less likely to PM you rude messages or target you with harassment while playing.
6. Don’t Share Personal Information
You should never share information about your social media account, email address, or real name on MMO games – even if you’re not being targeted by abusive players!
You never know what creepy stalker might see that info. They might save it and later use it to track down your social media accounts (which they might spam with inappropriate messages).
7. Don’t Accept Friend Request from Everyone
You don’t need to be everyone’s friend – they’re not entitled to that! Especially if you don’t even know who they are. Only accept friend requests from players you’ve known for a while and are sure you can trust.
Similarly, you shouldn’t be afraid to delete a toxic player from your friends list.
8. Block Abusive Players
Reporting them is effective, but it sometimes takes time until they receive a mute or their accounts are banned. Until then, do the next best thing – just block them. That way, they won’t be able to message you anymore.
Want to Learn More about Staying Safe in MMO Games?
Be sure to check out the GamerGirl blog then. It’s a mini-blog from ProPrivacy, a leading tech review site that also covers cybersecurity-related topics.
The article we linked talks specifically about staying safe in MMO games. However, the blog has tons of other useful resources (like whether or not Overwatch is safe for women, or what measures you can take to stay safe while traveling abroad).
How Else Can Gamer Girls Stay Safe in MMO Games?
Please let us know what other measures can be taken. Feel free to mention any specific tips you use. Also, if you experienced any abuse as a gamer, please tell us about your experience (don’t forget to mention which game you were playing).
