How Users Can Protect Personal Data When Playing Poker Online
The average person now has over seven accounts on social media alone. When you add the accounts we have on online stores, gambling sites, forums, and any other website, the number quickly adds up. Some of us create new accounts online without really even thinking about it, but it deserves some care and attention. Those who lose this data or are unfortunate enough to be involved in a data breach might find their finances compromised. Identity fraud is on the rise, and there are plenty of people out there trying to take advantage of weak accounts on poker sites, gambling sites, and any other place you might have an account.
Consider Cryptocurrencies to Protect Financial Details
Financial data should always be safeguarded. Sites that require people to put in their financial details are always going to be targets for scammers and hackers.
A lot of savvy customers are starting to put safeguards in place to try to stop scammers from stealing their details, but cryptocurrencies are also growing in popularity due to the anonymity they provide. Users don’t have to put card details into their account when using crypto. Further security comes from the public ledger that cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin use, tracking the transactions and making the process more secure and transparent.
Though there are some free poker sites, the majority of players choose to play online poker for real money and take on real players all over the world. When making an account at a casino or specific poker site, every player needs to share some details. With cryptocurrency casinos, though, the details that are shared are kept to a minimum, and bank details don’t get shared.
Crypto has other benefits, such as the speed at which transactions take place. When somebody wants to join a poker tournament or cash game, they probably don’t want to wait ages for their deposit to enter the account. Plus, after a win, they want to access the poker tournament winnings quickly, with Bitcoin being one of the fastest ways to move cash ready to spend, save, or invest.
Don’t Share Personal Details in Chat
Some poker sites come with a chat facility, which can be a way for players to communicate in the game. Plus, with poker being a psychological game it can also help to replicate the real lion’s den feeling of a poker table. It can also make it easier for players to bluff or even play some mind games with the other players; just like they would in a real casino on the Las Vegas strip, for example.
The golden rule of chat is not to share any private, personal details. Most people know not to share their financial details, as it is obvious how this could be used against them; but not everybody knows the risks of identity theft.
Some scammers can do a lot of harm if they know a few details like date of birth and address; and these can even be used to take out lending, making someone’s credit score bomb or even leaving them liable for debts. It is not a big risk, as long as players remember to be private with these details; there’s no reason to chat about anything other than the poker game unfolding on screen. Be suspicious if someone tries to push you for more info.
Only Play at Reputable Sites
Poker sites have a responsibility to their users, and this means they should always be reputable; and trustworthy plus take security precautions regarding data and secure connections. Things like SSL certificates are an absolute must; showing that the data encryption is strong enough to offer protection for the users of the site.
Check the experience others have had before creating an account; whether it be an account on a poker site or any other membership platform. There’s no reason to give your data to a company that you don’t trust with it. Users can also read the terms of service and privacy policies on these company sites which will explain how they use the data in question.
Some huge sites have had data breaches, so even reputable sites can be a risk. This is why every player should use multiple layers of protection to mitigate against one going wrong.
Use Strong Passwords and Email Aliases
If you’ve undergone any cybersecurity training you’ll know that strong passwords are at the very core of security online. It can be frustrating and tough to keep track of it all; but that doesn’t mean you can afford to ignore the risks of using a weak password. Every poker player should use a secure password and some will also choose to make accounts using email aliases which can be generated and linked to an active email account. This helps to ensure that it is harder to hack into all of your personal accounts.
Conclusion
Your personal data is not something to play fast and loose with. You should always think twice about giving it away, and choose reputable companies and sites for any type of account. Luckily, poker players find that there are loads of options on the market including those that use cryptocurrency, taking away some of the need for personal data.
