The Five Biggest Security Mistakes Game Developers Make (And How to Fix Them)
You've poured your heart and soul into building a game, but what's keeping you up at night? For many studio leaders and developers, it's the nightmare of a security breach. In an industry that saw a 30% rise in cyberattacks last year, a single vulnerability can compromise player data, destroy your in-game economy, and tarnish your reputation forever.
Security is not just a feature; it’s the bedrock of a successful game. Here are five of the most common security mistakes we see developers make and, more importantly, how you can avoid them with a proactive mindset.
1. Ignoring Server-Side Security, Especially on Consoles
Many studios focus heavily on client-side security, believing that a fortified user device is enough. However, hackers can always find a way around client-side protections. The true blind spot we often see, particularly in cross-platform games, is a failure to properly secure the server-side interactions with first-party services like PlayStation Network or Xbox Live. Without a rigorous authentication process, attackers can spoof their way in, leading to potential account takeovers and a violation of user data.
How to avoid it:
The server must always be the ultimate source of truth. Validate all player actions and data on your backend. Engage in penetration testing that specifically targets these first-party services to ensure they are airtight and not vulnerable to credential spoofing.
2. Relying on Client-Side Anti-Cheat as a Single Defense
Client-side anti-cheat is a necessary deterrent, but it is never enough. Cheaters are constantly innovating, and any code running on a player's machine is fundamentally vulnerable to manipulation. By relying solely on this method, you create a race to patch exploits that you are destined to lose. This leaves your game open to aimbots, wallhacks, and other cheats that can ruin the player experience and drive your community away.
How to avoid it:
Adopt a "defense-in-depth" strategy. Combine client-side anti-cheat with robust server-side checks and behavioral analysis. Your server can identify and flag suspicious or impossible actions—like a player teleporting—that your client-side tools may miss. A professional penetration test can also help identify and patch the specific flaws that cheaters may exploit.
3. Forgetting to Secure the In-Game Economy
Your game’s economy is its heartbeat. Vulnerabilities that allow players to duplicate currency, exploit glitches for infinite items, or access platform-specific content on the wrong console can quickly devalue the entire game. For free-to-play and gacha games, this is a financial disaster that undermines your monetization model and destroys player trust.
How to avoid it:
Ensure all critical in-game actions, especially those involving transactions and item management, are server-authoritative. This means the server, not the player's device, must confirm every transaction. Comprehensive penetration testing is essential for uncovering these complex logic flaws before they can be exploited.
4. Storing Sensitive Player Data Insecurely
In an age of data breaches and strict privacy regulations, insecure data storage is one of the most costly mistakes a studio can make. A data breach can lead to lawsuits, fines, and a catastrophic loss of player trust. As we've seen with high-profile breaches, the damage to a studio's reputation can be devastating and far harder to recover from than any technical issue.
How to avoid it:
Encrypt all sensitive player data, both at rest and in transit. Only collect the player data you absolutely need and ensure you are fully compliant with regulations like GDPR and CCPA. Regular penetration testing can help you discover and fix any vulnerabilities in your data storage systems before a malicious actor does.
5. Skipping Professional Penetration Testing
Many developers rely on automated vulnerability scans or assume their internal team will find all the flaws. This is a common and dangerous oversight. Automated scans are often superficial, and in-house developers can be blind to vulnerabilities in their own code. A security flaw that goes unnoticed could lead to a breach that results in costly downtime, loss of revenue, and player dissatisfaction.
How to avoid it:
Invest in professional penetration testing. Unlike a simple scan, a pen test is a strategic, manual process performed by seasoned experts who think like real-world attackers. Our game-focused testing for multiplayer and blockchain games, which covers everything from Unreal Engine to Unity, is specifically designed to uncover the non-standard logic flaws and unique exploits that generic testers often miss.
Elevating Your Security: A Proactive Approach
Don't let security be an afterthought. The threat landscape is constantly evolving, and a proactive security posture is your best defense against the costly consequences of a breach. At Cyrex, we don't just find vulnerabilities; we help you build a resilient, secure foundation that your players can trust. Don't wait for a breach to happen. Take the first step toward a more secure future for your game and your players. Contact us today to discuss your project and discover how our tailored penetration testing services can give you peace of mind.