In today’s information age, we have a lot of advantages over previous generations regarding technology. However, with the increase in technology, privacy and keeping your personal information secure online has become extremely important.
This extends to online sports betting. Few bettors consider security when they’re creating accounts at online sportsbooks. Sports betting has its unique pitfalls and considerations when it comes to keeping your account and your betting funds safe.
Secure Passwords
Password security is a huge problem for a lot of people, but most don’t make any changes to secure themselves better until they end up getting hacked. After that, most learn their lesson when it comes to security, but that isn’t always the case.
Your sportsbook accounts (obviously) have money in them, so security is especially important. Also, unlike someone getting access to your bank account, credit or debit card, if someone hacks into your online betting account and begins wagering, it’s extremely unlikely that you will get the money back.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is using their first name, last name or other personal information in their password. You should stay away from any personal information, such as your birthday or address.
We understand why people pick these type of passwords – they’re easy to remember. Of course, the issue with using that information is that other people know it, or it can be accessed by someone else who is trying to infiltrate your account.
Another mistake that many make is using a few different passwords and rotating them between their different accounts. The issue here is that if someone were to find out one of these passwords, they could enter your email or username into sites that most people have accounts with, such as Facebook, Amazon.com, Google and others and possibly access your information.
Every password you make should be unique. Don’t share passwords between different accounts.
LastPass is one of the best tools to manage and create secure passwords. Users will have to create a master password to login into LastPass, but from there, it allows you to create secure passwords instantly and manages all logins and passwords for every site you visit.
Creating a secure password is relatively simple. It should be between 8-12 characters, a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters, if possible, and upper and lowercase words.
Public Hotspots
Wi-Fi hotspots are another piece of amazing technology, but they come with risks. It’s awesome to be able to use the internet when traveling or in a park in the middle of the city, but these are breeding grounds for hackers.
Many top security experts have stated that if you’re using public Wi-Fi and you’re not getting hacked, it’s simply because there is no one around to do it. Essentially, bettors or anyone who cares about their security should avoid using public hotspots.
There are ways around this, however. Visiting websites that are fully encrypted help, but it isn’t full proof. One option to use a virtual private network (VPN) while accessing a Wi-Fi hotspot. Any hackers in the area will see that you’re connected to the VPN, but will not be able to see what you’re doing or be able to access your data.
Computer Security
When it comes to your personal computer, laptop, or cell phone, we recommend password protection for all of them. Even if you’re the only one accessing your computer in your home, it’s worth keeping it protected. In the event of theft, your information will be at risk, which makes a rough situation even harder.
As far as internet security, a secure router is vital. Too many people have gotten their information stolen over unsecured wireless networks, even in their own neighborhoods. Even when it comes to secure routers, be sure to change the default settings.
Often, these come with the same factory defaults for username and password, giving customers a false sense of security after initial installation. Be sure to randomize your password and other settings after you set up your router.
Finally, strong anti-virus software. There are a lot of options in this space, but a number of products will do. Some that are completely free that work better than premium products. Anti-virus helps your computer deal with viruses and attacks from hackers.
Don’t make the mistake of not securing your computer and other devices. With so much in offshore gambling being done in crypto-currencies like Bitcoin, this is even more important today. If you ‘re frequently betting with bitcoins, security must be a top priority.
About the Author
Joseph Falchetti
Editor-in-Chief, Pro Sports Bettor and Casino Expert
Joe is the author of the majority of sports betting pages on SBS and he serves as a gambling consultant to our content team. He's been mentioned on Forbes.com as a gaming analyst, and his articles have been linked by larger publications, such as the New York Times.
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