The popularity of esports has skyrocketed in recent years, with more and more people tuning in to watch their favorite teams and players compete in virtual tournaments. However, along with this rise in popularity comes an increase in cyber threats, particularly denial of service (DoS) and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. These attacks can have devastating consequences for esports organizations, including downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage. In this blog post, we’ll explore the rise of DoS and DDoS attacks in esports and how organizations can stay secure.
The Rise of DoS and DDoS Attacks in Esports
DoS and DDoS attacks are becoming increasingly common in esports, with many high-profile events and organizations falling victim to these types of attacks. In 2020, the League of Legends World Championship was hit by a DDoS attack, causing significant delays and disruption to the tournament. Other major esports events, such as the Overwatch League and the Capcom Cup, have also been targeted by DoS and DDoS attacks in recent years.
Esports organizations are particularly vulnerable to DoS and DDoS attacks because their events are often streamed live over the internet, making them an easy target for cyber criminals. These attacks can cause a range of problems, including:
- Downtime: A DoS or DDoS attack can cause an esports event to go offline, preventing fans from watching and causing significant disruption to the tournament.
- Financial losses: Esports organizations rely on their events for revenue, and a DoS or DDoS attack can result in lost ticket sales, advertising revenue, and sponsorships.
- Reputational damage: If an esports organization is hit by a DoS or DDoS attack, it can damage their reputation and erode fan trust.
How to Stay Secure
So, how can esports organizations stay secure in the face of these threats? Here are some tips:
- Use DDoS Protection Services
One of the most effective ways to protect against DoS and DDoS attacks is to use a DDoS protection service. These services are designed to detect and mitigate attacks in real-time, keeping your esports events running smoothly. Look for a DDoS protection service that offers 24/7 monitoring and support, as well as a range of protection options to suit your organization’s needs.
- Keep Software Up-to-Date
Outdated software can be vulnerable to cyber attacks, so it’s important to keep all software used by your esports organization up-to-date. This includes the operating system, applications, and any plugins or extensions used on your website. Regularly updating software can help to close vulnerabilities and reduce the risk of a successful attack.
- Implement Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your esports organization’s accounts, making it more difficult for cyber criminals to gain access. With 2FA, users must enter a password and a unique code generated by an app or device in order to log in. This makes it much harder for attackers to gain access to your organization’s accounts, even if they have obtained a password through other means.
- Train Employees on Cybersecurity Best Practices
Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, and it’s important to ensure that all employees at your esports organization are aware of the risks and best practices for staying secure. This includes things like not clicking on suspicious links or attachments in emails, using strong passwords, and reporting any suspicious activity to the IT team.
- Conduct Regular Security Audits
Regular security audits can help to identify vulnerabilities in your esports organization’s network and infrastructure, allowing you to take steps to address them before they can be exploited by cyber criminals. Consider hiring a third-party security firm to conduct regular audits and provide
