How to Protect Your Identity When Betting Online

Some individuals think that if they choose to gamble using cryptos, then their identity will remain a secret, and they are inherently super safe when gambling remotely. Of course, that is not the case, as many different ways exist in how others can gain control over one’s account, discovering their identity and abusing it for their monetary benefit. Given the rise of anti-money laundering measures and stricter regulation the Internet gaming and betting sector has seen in the past few years, individuals today virtually always must reveal who they are to their operators, which was not the case before.

Naturally, everyone wants to keep safe from unauthorized access to sensitive personal information, as privacy gives people peace of mind, reducing anxiety linked with doing anything online, let alone something that involves risking hard-earned funds. Below, we elaborate on how to keep safe when betting on sports from anywhere at any time, with or without cryptos. So, pay attention, as this is required knowledge for all remote bettors.

Use a Trustworthy Sportsbook

Yes, you must be proactive if you wish to keep yourself safe when gambling over the internet. However, some things are out of your hands, as you use someone else’s service to participate in this pastime. Hence, that party must do its part to ensure that your information does not get accessed by nefarious individuals/groups. Or, just people who have no business peaking at your info. That is why you must pick only reputable online bookies with proven track records of providing quality betting fun with all the security bells and whistles. What does the latter mean? It refers to state-of-the-art encryption, a credible server certificate, 2FA, permitting user data review (past bets, logins, transactions, etc), and offering various responsible gambling features.

It goes without saying that regulation is also a factor to consider, as platforms licensed by established bodies are far less likely to get involved in shady activities. We recommend selecting sites overseen by respectable sector organizations and going through these brand’s terms and conditions pages before signing up. The latter is important because in these sections, or their privacy policy pages (if they have one), it gets explained how operators handle user info and who they can share it with. Some aspects of these things get determined by law, like for how many years after account closure the gambling operator keeps user data on file. Yet, each sphere player can determine other privacy elements itself. Please be responsible and inform yourself of this.

What Every Online Gambler Should Do

There is no guarantee that someone will not snatch your info online, even if you follow the tips presented in this subheading. That is so because new methods keep getting invented, and you can always fall for social engineering and phishing scams.

In the past, experienced gamblers would recommend to newbies to register using a pseudonym or a fake name. Yet, nowadays, this is not possible, clearly on account of the KYC procedures that most online gambling brands follow. So, only look to supply the necessary information to your chosen wagering site, and do not share this data with parties you do not have to.

VPN use is not allowed on most Internet sportsbooks. Nonetheless, you may get away with it if you use an IP address from your country. It is important to note that many top-end sites have a list of all the IPs famous VPN services utilize. Therefore, when someone accesses their site using one of these locations, that instantly raises red flags for an operator, as he knows VPN is utilized. Examine a site’s terms to learn of its VPN stance. Then contact their staff inquiring about VPN use on their platform, asking how strict they are on this issue if they do not allow it, elaborating that you wish to use it for privacy and safety alone. Be transparent. If you are not, and VPN use is not permitted, your account may get closed and your funds locked.

On the topic of Internet safety, avoid gambling via public Wi-Fi networks. These may lack encryption, can have gotten set up as rogue hacker hotspots, and make you vulnerable to man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks and interception ones.

Activating two-factor authentication if the site offers it is a must, as is creating a complex password and using a password manager. We also suggest avoiding credit/debit cards if you like to bet using fiat payment methods, as it is better to utilize an e-wallet or another option that adds an extra layer of separation between your bank account and sportsbook.

You should also check your records periodically, including your login activity, scanning for any suspicious activity. Lastly, be sure to have anti-malware software on your device, stay informed about your bookie’s latest security policies, keep your devices up to date with the newest patches, and activate private mode, which does not allow your name to appear in site standings/bet tables.

Some More Advanced Tips

We know it is hard, but please be mindful of sharing win screenshots on social media, as people may deduce precious info regarding your account if you are not careful. We recommend using a dedicated email address for online betting solely. That reduces the risk of email-related attacks. Even if hackers get your email account, they will not see any info not related to your online gambling activity.

Encrypting sensitive files is also a good idea, which protects you when your device gets compromised. You will also want to turn off many auto-fill features in your browser. These are settings that automatically fill your info and remember your passwords. If that is too much of a bother, you can gamble on sports in incognito mode. But that entails you logging in each time you visit your selected site, which many people will find a major hassle.

Regarding your email address, make it a habit to go to services like Have I Been Pwned to learn if your emails have gotten leaked online through a data breach. These happen more often than you would think. If that is the case, you may be susceptible to attacks. uBlock Origin is probably the best ad blocker app on the market, and it not only saves you from malicious ads but stops your browser from inadvertently downloading malware. Know that browser extensions can kill your desire for privacy, as most require extensive permissions, capturing data that tracks your activities. Accordingly, the less you have of these, the better.

In conclusion, we will add that you should back up important data, educate yourself about popular identity theft techniques, use different passwords for different accounts, enable security notifications, and regularly clear your browser cache/cookies.

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