How do I protect myself in virtual worlds?

You need to be cautious in virtual worlds, but it is not always enough to protect yourself. The EU and its Member States are actively working on different levels to protect the people living in the EU. 

For example, it is good to be aware of some of the cybersecurity risks that you may come across in virtual worlds – most of which are already present today on online platforms, such as phishing and malware, and what you can do to protect yourself. Disinformation and misinformation can also happen in virtual worlds, so it is important to use critical thinking with the information, videos and images you come across. Not all is what it seems.

EU funded project XR4Human works on the inherent ethically relevant risks and potential harms of extended reality technologies, which are used in virtual worlds and online entertainment, such as gaming, as well as the strategies and recommendations to mitigate these. This short video discusses and explains these dilemmas of virtual worlds technologies, such as increase in obesity, cybersickness and emotional and psychological harms. 

Be alert that criminals can also operate in virtual worlds. To be a victim of cybercrime can be extremely unpleasant and cause severe psychological trauma and financial damages, in particular if the victim is a child or a vulnerable person. This is why it is important you know how to protect yourself from the most common cybercrimes and in case of being a victim, who you can reach to for help.

Be aware that EU legislation may not stretch all the way to another continent.  If you are not a resident in the European Union or using a platform based in the EU, you may not be protected by EU rules. Thus, a safe option is always to exercise critical judgement and find out about the virtual world you will be visiting prior to visiting it.