The Metaverse. A major topic of debate for almost anyone in tech (and beyond), the concept is divided between those who see it as the next big thing, and those who view it as a waste of time, bandied around by Silicon Valley.
Whichever it turns out to be, the Metaverse is here, and it represents a chance for brands and businesses to explore new ways of reaching their customers.
But it also brings up a host of cybersecurity concerns for both companies that use it and individuals that access it – concerns that won’t go away anytime soon.
In this blog, we’re going to take a look at the big three cybersecurity issues that any Metaverse user should be aware of, to ensure they stay safe in the meta and whatever comes afterwards.
Issue 1: Data protection
Data is still one of the biggest issues in cybersecurity, and the wild west of the VR-enabled metaverse is a particular concern.
Since many people will be using sensors and hardware to access the metaverse, there’s plenty of opportunity for that hardware to sneakily capture and sell data. Microphones can monitor calls, cameras can capture visual feeds – in short, there’s plenty of opportunity here for unscrupulous data harvesters to ply their trade.
To combat this, users and businesses should take special care to only grant permissions to platforms, services and hardware providers they trust. And if the opportunity to consent doesn’t come up, it’s best to steer clear.
Issue 2: Lack of regulation
The metaverse is exciting, fresh and new. But with its novel nature comes inherent risks because of a lack of regulation.
We called it the wild west earlier, and we weren’t lying. Anyone can set up a platform and anyone can provide a service – and many of these won’t be vetted or verified. There’s no consistent UX or security system, so there are many ways that dodgy providers can open you up to potential threats.
As with issue one, the trick here is to only use platforms and services that you trust, offered by providers who you know to be genuine. If in doubt, try to find another option that is secure and reliable.
Issue 3: Passwords
Yes, it’s our old friend, password fraud. The nature of the metaverse means that you’ll need a lot of passwords to get to where you need to be. Whether it’s simple for access, to manage a cryptocurrency wallet or to get into certain spaces, there’ll be plenty of passwords around for criminals to steal.
Here, all of the old rules apply. Only ever choose strong passwords and make a point of incorporating 2-factor authentication wherever you can. Keep passwords safe and never share them.
But along with these classics, you also have to consider the metaverse aspect itself. Keep passwords away from cameras, never reveal your passwords through your microphone and consider how you input your password for metaverse access.
For many, the metaverse is the next frontier in the digital age – and it can well be, but it always pays to stay safe, however you access the digital world.
For more insights around cybersecurity, visit us at csp.partners.