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Esports trends in 2022 and beyond The increasing importance of cybersecurity
THE INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF CYBERSECURITY
As esports becomes increasingly prominent , it faces new threats from cybercriminals looking to take advantage of a sector still in the process of forming .
THE WORLD Economic Forum ’ s Global Risks Report 2021 listed cyberattacks as one of the most clear and present dangers facing businesses today , costing the global economy as much as US $ 3.5bn (£ 2.6bn /€ 3.2bn ) per year .
The Covid-19 pandemic , which forced more people to work from home ( with unsecured networks ), and the increased use of cryptocurrency ( for criminals to receive their demands ) have fuelled this increase in cybercrime . Norton , a US-based cybersecurity company , estimates there was on average one cyberattack every 39 seconds in 2021 .
In 2019 , cybersecurity specialists Trend Micro predicted that the rising popularity and viewership of esports will see cybercriminals increasingly target the industry over the next three years .
“ The esports industry is a fastemerging target because the systems and infrastructure around it are still maturing ,” it said . “ Its increasing popularity is also pulling in more investors and sponsors – and where there is money to be made ,
“ Its increasing popularity is also pulling in more investors and sponsors – and where there is money to be made , cybercriminals will predictably turn up ” Trend Micro
Esports trends in 2022 and beyond