If you’re a large company with an online presence, you could be targeted by hackers. Cyberattacks aren’t anything new, but cybercriminals are finding new ways to breach security. More sophisticated attacks mean that companies need to use advanced tools and knowledgeable professionals to create an adept response.
Online gambling sites like sportsbooks and casinos are no exception. We spoke to our expert,
Kristoffer Haagensen who’s an expert in odds, bookmakers, and online gambling sites. He talked us through the reasons that operators are targets of cyberattacks and how crucial cybersecurity is.
Those who have recently set up, such as those on this nytt norsk casino list, should have
online gaming cybersecurity as a top priority on their list. It can sound quite alarming, but the industry has been dealing with these issues for some time and knows what to check. So let’s find out more about what hackers want and how gambling sites can protect themselves.
Securing Funds
One of the reasons that betting sites are a target is the money involved. The industry is expected to have a value of $92.9 billion by 2023. While that doesn’t sit in one pot waiting for hackers to try and get it, considerable sums are being deposited, bet, won, and lost every day.
In Norway, integrity is an appreciated attribute, and casinos know that they need their customers to trust and respect them. That’s why cybersecurity in gambling is such a hot topic. It’s essential that the appropriate tools are used to give customers peace of mind that their transactions will be secure.
You’ll typically see the padlock symbol in the address bar and see a secure website address that starts with ‘https://’. Many online operators also provide information about the SSL or secure socket layer and encryption technology that they use. You can also look out for security company logos in the website footer. If you want to know more, feel free to contact a representative through your casino or sportsbook’s live chat and ask.
A Threat To Data and Integrity
It isn’t only financial transactions that need protecting. Hackers attack online casinos and target large companies for several other reasons. These reasons include wanting to obtain data, which can be sold, used to compromise individuals, or lead to other scams and hacking activities.
Anyone can be a target of a cyberattack, even government agencies. So for them and online gambling sites, there’s also a question of reputation and integrity. Not only do they want their customers to feel safe, but they don’t want cyber criminals to be able to mimic their communications and do damage to their brand or the targets of any scams.
Whether you’re using a casino, a sportsbook, or another type of website, you’ll need to include some personal data in order to play. Online operators are aware that this creates a vulnerability and requires trust. As in other countries, gambling sites in Norway take precautions to prevent situations where data could be compromised.
Taking Measures
A common type of attack is a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS), where traffic is increased to overwhelm and slow down a site. While this is happening, hackers send out bots to retrieve information. It damages the site data and its reputation, which is exactly what operators want to avoid.
Fortunately, industry professionals spend their time understanding the latest threats, exploring weak points, and devising frameworks that can protect online gambling sites. Finding solutions to these challenges is occurring at every level. From national action, like the
Norwegian cybersecurity strategy, to industries, and individual businesses hiring security consultants, measures are being taken.
Firewalls, two-factor authentication, and encrypted transactions all play a role in cybersecurity; online games are the main event, but a lot is happening behind the scenes. Other security factors include only working with trusted payment providers and other third parties, as they could provide a weak link and access point to the site.
A Priority For Casinos
Although you might hear more and more about cyberattacks in the news, there are ways to defend against them. Cybersecurity is a required field that needs to develop simultaneously as cybercriminals’ knowledge, if not faster. Online gambling sites depend on it, and we can expect the two industries to work side by side to make detection and defence a priority.
