7 Ways to Protect Your Gaming Accounts from Hackers

Your gaming accounts hold more than high scores. A Steam library, an Epic Games account full of Fortnite skins, a PlayStation Network profile or an Xbox account can represent years of play and real money spent on games. That is exactly why hackers target them, and why a few minutes of setup today can save you a long and painful account recovery later.

The good news is that every major gaming platform now offers the same basic protections, and they are free. The steps below work across Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation, Xbox and Google, and each one is taken from the platform's own official help pages. Work through them one by one, starting with the first, and your accounts will be far harder to break into.

Cyber security concept illustration

Photo by Ann Hannes on Pexels. This is a stock illustration, not a screenshot of any game or service.

1. Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere

This is the single most important step. Two-factor authentication, or 2FA, adds a second step when you sign in, so even if someone learns your password, they still cannot get into your account. Epic Games puts it plainly: with 2FA on, a stolen password alone is not enough. It is also required to claim some free games on the Epic Games Store, to send gifts in Fortnite and to take part in Fortnite competitive events.

Here is where to switch it on, platform by platform. On Steam, open the Steam Mobile App, go to Steam Guard and choose Add Authenticator, then enter and verify your phone number. On PC, open Steam, go to Steam, then Settings, then Security, and choose Manage Steam Guard, where you can pick codes from the mobile app or by email. On Epic Games, sign in to your account, open the Password and security section, and under Two-Factor Authentication click Set up for your preferred method, choosing an authenticator app, email or SMS, then enter the code you receive.

On PlayStation, sign in to Account Management and select Security. Next to 2-step Verification Status, select Edit, then choose Authenticator App or Text Message, enter your mobile number or scan the QR code with your authenticator app, and enter the code you receive to activate it. On Xbox, your account is a Microsoft account: sign in at account.microsoft.com/security, open the Security tab, select Manage how I sign in, and under Additional security and Two-step verification choose Turn on, then follow the on-screen steps. For your Google account, open your Google Account, select Security, and under How you sign in to Google, select Turn on 2-Step Verification, then follow the on-screen steps. Google lets you use passkeys, Google prompts, an authenticator app, SMS codes or a security key.

2. Use a different, long password for every gaming account

If you reuse one password everywhere, a single leaked password hands hackers the keys to all of your accounts at once. Give each gaming account its own long password that you do not use anywhere else. A password manager can generate and remember them for you, so you only need to remember one strong master password. Change any password immediately if a service tells you it may have been exposed, and never type your gaming passwords into a website that is not run by the platform itself.

3. Never share your login codes with anyone

Your authenticator code is the second key to your account, and it belongs to you alone. Steam's own support pages warn players never to share a password or mobile authenticator code with anyone, and never to type a username, password or authenticator code into a website that is not run by Valve. Real support staff will never ask for your code. Anyone who messages you claiming to be from Steam, Epic, PlayStation or Xbox support and asks for your code, or sends you a link to log in somewhere else, is trying to steal your account. When in doubt, close the message and go to the official website yourself.

4. Save your backup and recovery codes somewhere safe

Two-factor authentication can lock you out as well as hackers if you lose your phone, so every platform gives you a way back. When you set up the Steam Mobile Authenticator, save the recovery code it shows you: it is required if you lose your device. On PlayStation, sign in to Account Management, select Security, then select Backup Codes, and store them somewhere safe. PlayStation notes that if you cannot sign in to your account, you cannot check your backup codes online, so keep a copy somewhere you can reach without signing in. Microsoft also advises keeping at least three pieces of security information on your account, just in case one of them fails.

5. Keep your recovery email and phone number up to date

Recovery only works if the contact details on your account are current. Microsoft recommends having two different email addresses on your account, and its two-step verification setup begins with an email address. Check the recovery email and phone number on each of your gaming accounts today, and update them whenever you change numbers or switch email providers. Google also lets you add backup verification options during setup, which is worth doing while you are there. An old phone number you no longer own is the most common reason players cannot get back into a hacked account.

6. Sign out on shared devices and check your recent activity

If you have ever signed in on a friend's console, a shared PC or a public computer, sign out before you leave. Microsoft offers a sign-out-everywhere option for its accounts, and every platform lets you review recent sign-ins or active sessions. Get into the habit of checking that list after a holiday or a gaming session away from home. If you see a sign-in from a place or device you do not recognise, change your password at once and check that two-factor authentication is still switched on.

7. Download games only from official stores

Fake game downloads are one of the oldest tricks for stealing gaming accounts. A free copy of a paid game from a random website often comes with malware that records your keystrokes or steals saved passwords. Stick to the official stores: Steam, the Epic Games Store, the PlayStation Store, the Microsoft Store, Google Play and the App Store. The same applies to mods, cheats and third-party launchers. If a download asks you to turn off your security software or to log in with your gaming account on an unfamiliar website, walk away.

None of these steps takes long on its own, but together they close almost every easy way into your accounts. Start with two-factor authentication on the platform you use most, save your recovery codes, and then work through the rest over the weekend. Your game library, your skins and your save files are worth the ten minutes.

Sources:

Steam Support - Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator - https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/7EFD-3CAE-64D3-1C31

Epic Games - Two-factor authentication (2FA) and how to enable it - https://www.epicgames.com/help/c-45487929/c-38978022/a10075388

PlayStation Support - How to set up 2-step verification on PlayStation - https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/account/2sv-login/

Microsoft Support - How to use two-step verification with your Microsoft account - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/security/how-to-use-two-step-verification-with-your-microsoft-account

Google Account Help - Turn on 2-Step Verification - https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185839