Fortnite Mania: Fun Game for Kids, A Possible Nightmare for Parents

The world of video gaming has exploded offering children fun games and professional players awards and cash prizes. With Fortnite being the latest wildly popular video game app, have no doubt that hackers are finding ways to take the fun out of the game. Fortnite hacks show no signs of slowing down and they include scams to steal money and collect personal information. There are also fake Fortnite apps out there loaded with malware and plenty of social media scams spreading the fraud to other users. They also direct social media users to fake links and websites with other suspicious game apps designed to steal information and money. Despite all this, kids remain blissfully unaware of the dangers, and once again, it’s up to adults to know better.

A recent study by ZeroFox security found there are more than 4,700 bogus websites for Fortnite. It also found the company behind the game sent more than 50,000 security alerts about all these scams in just a single month. Fortnite play is designed for children 13 and above, but many kids younger than that download the app and play. The shooting game has cartoonish characters and is short on graphic gore (compared to other games). However, the online chat feature is not monitored and may expose younger children to offensive language and content from total strangers. Whether young or old, there’s plenty to know to keep Fortnite safe and fun for all.

Keeping Fortnite Safe for Everyone

Be Nosy; Monitor Chats:

Take some time to get to know who your kids are chatting with and be sure to have a high level of confidence that they aren't hackers or preying on your kids in any way. Being a nosy parent is worth the child's scorn.

Know About V-Bucks: These are Fortnite’s in-game currency. First, you don’t need them to play the game. V-Bucks may make playing more fun by buying characters, outfits and fun little dancing. V-Bucks cost real money that scammers try to get. Look out for websites and YouTube videos offering “free” V-Bucks for taking surveys and watching ads. Those V-Bucks never appear, and in fact, the websites steal personal data from those trying to get them free. The only place to buy legitimate V-Bucks is from the official Fortnite app.

Fake Android Fortnite Apps: Fortnite game creator, Epic Games, decided not to offer the Android app in the Google Play Store. Beware scammers offering look-alike Fortnite apps, especially from Google Play. They really steal data and spread malware.

Talk to Your Kids: Let them know how to spot fake Fortnite and other app scams like look-alikes and fake URLs. Have children download apps in your presence, especially to monitor data on registration and other forms, quizzes, and permission for information and links to social media and contacts. Keep a tight lid on your child’s personal data and those of their contacts.

Just keeping these tips in mind, can keep your child’s information safer and your money in your own pocket!

Stickley on Security
Published December 28, 2018