What is the security guarantee in Metaverse? The potential uses of Metaverse make it a wonderful and exciting concept, but as with everything in the tech world, some work needs to be done to control how it’s used. Metaverse security features require careful study and development processes to live in Metaverse and protect users.
So, what security features are needed to secure it? In the following, we will further examine the security in Metaverse. Security experts have a special place in Metaverse and a job position exists for them. Read about different jobs in Metaverse.
Metaverse security challenges; How to handle them? This new virtual world’s cyber security risks and privacy issues may have received less attention. In this article, we have reviewed some of the issues related to privacy and security that must be done in Metaverse.
Metaverse is a virtual environment where people connect, interact, and shop. This convergence of the physical and digital worlds is marked by the Greek word meta, meaning “beyond” or “after” the world.
1. Rules and regulations
If the virtual world needs one thing, it is the creation of rules and regulations in Metaverse. If Metaverse is to function like the real world (that is, where people physically interact, assets are bought and sold, and social events take place), there must be rules that ensure the security of the Metaverse.
Rules and regulations play a crucial role in ensuring the security of the metaverse and protecting users from potential risks such as fraud, theft, and hacking.
Annoying users can cause problems for other users and even make some services or games unsafe to use. This is why every space in Metaverse must prioritize guidelines and rules. Regulations regarding abusive language, theft, impersonation, and other cybercrimes are crucial to preventing Metaverse from becoming unsafe.
Although each space in Metaverse can have its guidelines, there should be a set of rules common to all virtual projects that prevent users from selfishly using this new technology.
Ultimately, regulations can enable the metaverse to reach its full potential as a safe and thriving digital ecosystem.
2. Protection of users
One of the most important parts of any online platform is its users, which will be the same in Metaverse. User protection must be vital in this virtual world to maintain security in Metaverse. This protection can take many forms, but providing users with appropriate levels of privacy and security should be paramount.
In addition, users must be able to report that another user has misbehaved towards them or that something has happened that upsets or worries them. Allowing users to file complaints this way can help Metaverse improve its security features.
Metaverse companies are developing ways to protect users from abusive behavior. But this is only the beginning of the measures that must be taken to protect users when entering Metaverse effectively. This space can become a target for attackers and criminals who want to use users’ vulnerabilities. Therefore, the developer should prioritize user safety.
3. Fair Punishments to Create Security
If a user misbehaves or commits a crime in Metaverse, appropriate punishments are required to deal with it. But this becomes more difficult when we go from the real world to the virtual world. For example, suppose a Metaverse user starts misbehaving with another user. This could mean abusive language, harassment, or something similar, but can it be punished like it is in real life?
Of course, if the user’s online behavior is verbally abusive, it can be considered overt verbal abuse. But if a user tries to stalk or harass another user’s avatar in Metaverse, can it really be considered a crime? If so, what kind of punishment should be imposed? If not, what is the alternative restriction for the user? This is what lawmakers and regulators need to know.
4. User Identification
Establishing security in Metaverse will also require the identification of criminals. Nowadays, it is effortless for a person to do unethical things in cyberspace and then avoid the consequences; Because the relevant authorities cannot identify them. If a user accesses Metaverse through a VPN, it becomes more difficult to detect when they are breaking the rules or committing a crime.
For this reason, a user may need a way to verify their identity before being allowed access to Metaverse. A photo of a passport, birth certificate, driver’s license, or similar documents may be requested to ensure that the user does not hide his identity.
It can also help prevent identity theft in Metaverse, another concern of Metaverse. Protecting user identity in metaverses should be essential, so requiring personal identification when creating user accounts and avatars can significantly reduce identity theft. Users may also be asked to verify their age so minors cannot enter insecure spaces on Metaverse.
5. Restrictions on Use to Create Security
When a person can enter a virtual world that is more interesting than reality, addiction can become a problem very quickly, and many consider the impact of Metaverse on children to be bad. With regular online shopping, gaming, and dating, we often live in the real world. But being immersed in another reality where we can make new friends, buy lands and new products, and live a new life, somehow risks being over-exploited and can be addictive.
If the activity level of people is very high, it isn’t easy to prevent the full use of Metaverse. In this regard, suggestions can be made to warn users in case of long-term use of Metaverse or to allow users to set access limits as programs.
Everything About Privacy and Metaverse Security
It’s important to note that in VR experiences in general, you shouldn’t expect secure privacy right now: There are three components to cyber security in Metaverse. Cyber security of the host, cyber security of the property (renters), and cyber security of the users of this property (consumers within the property).
Let’s outline the main risks associated with each component and how to address them.
Platform owners
The lack of regulation is the biggest drawback of the tech giants investing in building Metaverse operating systems. However, this may lead to broken and inconsistent UX and expectations.
How to handle risk: Platform owners must use instructions and agree to adhere to a strict code of conduct. This shows that leadership and awareness of cyber security challenges in Metaverse will ultimately contribute to the platform’s security.
Monitoring of metaverse operating systems requires active and reactive intervention. Build a comprehensive administrative oversight team supported by artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled security strategy. Use AI insights to identify and act quickly on any abuse, misconduct, or misrepresentation. There should also be mechanisms for property owners and their customers to raise security and privacy issues.
Property owners/renters
Lack of awareness of Metaverse cybersecurity best practices puts virtual real estate users, including customers, partners, and guests, all or some newcomers to Metaverse, at risk. In many cases, property owners and renters are newcomers, creating an environment where cybersecurity is compromised.
How to handle risk: Property owners should take the time to understand the security and privacy of the platform they are hosting. They should review the services they are building or using and take steps to ensure safety and confidentiality.
User data in Metaverse includes sensors, location, physiological and social data. It will be necessary for property owners to understand that user data is collected and then layered by the platform provider.
Consumers/Users
Consumers are at risk; Because, unlike the real world, which has consumer data privacy laws, such as GDPR and CCPA, there is no such equivalent in the Metaverse.
The lack of authentication processes, especially for avatars, puts consumers at risk. Also, communication rights are different depending on the metaverse platform, and in the AR world, communication rights cover physical-to-virtual interactions as well as virtual-to-virtual interactions. In a VR world, all interactions are virtual.
How to handle risk: Consumers should make an effort to understand the security and privacy protections implemented by the platform provider and property owner. It is the responsibility of the consumer to ask the platform provider and property owner what data is being collected. How long is it stored? And what is the justification for clearing this data?
Consumers should also exercise caution in sharing any information. They should check with the property owners for confirmation when in doubt.
Metaverse is very exciting, But you have to be careful
In short, Metaverse, without any rules or restrictions, can become chaotic in a concise period. While providing a pleasant experience and accessibility to users is essential, protecting them while preventing their unethical behavior will be necessary to make Metaverse a safe and sustainable cyberspace.
Metaverse has many advantages; Beyond pure entertainment, it can improve work productivity in remote work environments or for educational tasks (e-learning). However, like any connected device, it also comes with potential cybersecurity threats.
Security threats in Metaverse
Security threats in Metaverse include the following:
Malware and Phishing Attacks
Phishing, As an increasingly common term, is a considerable risk. Metaverse and other related topics are used as bait by hackers to direct users to pages with malicious content. As always, cybersecurity education plays a key role in helping us avoid becoming victims of social engineering attacks, but education is not enough, and other measures will be necessary.
According to a Pulse survey of cybersecurity experts, 35 percent believe that implementing cybersecurity solutions to protect employees and users is the best way to protect businesses from phishing in Metaverse. At the same time, 31 percent say that employees also need training. (source)
Recording user movements
A relatively new cybersecurity challenge with Metaverse is that devices record user data (which most devices have never registered before), such as body, head, hand, and even eye movements collected by virtual reality headsets.
The combination of these movements represents a unique set for each person that can serve as a signature. That is why some companies are researching using these biometric parameters in authentication technologies for metaverse spaces or commercial purposes.
Capture the user’s physical environment
Indoor and outdoor AR/VR tracking systems use helmet-mounted multi-angle cameras, sensors, and photogrammetry-like techniques to obtain a 3D view of the user’s space. This software combines the virtual environment with the physical space of the user.
The problem is that, in practice, these sensors produce 3D maps of the environment, which may include the user’s home or workplace. This leads to scenarios that involve not only cyber security risks but also physical security risks for users.
Impersonation, Identity Theft
Users can access Metaverse spaces with their real name or avatar, but either way, malicious cyber actors can steal their login credentials and impersonate them. This can be especially dangerous in metaverse corporate environments, as they can gain access to sensitive data or compromise scenarios where purchases or financial transactions are made.
The Importance of Cyber Security in Metaverse
The foundation of the Metaverse must be affected by security for the following reasons:
Fame and Reputation
The success of Metaverse depends on the platform owners who build trust in the operating system and its users, and one of the main pillars of building trust is cyber security. Customers are aware of cyber security because of the data breaches and cyber attacks they have seen in the real world.
Business Growth
Since there is no regulatory environment for Metaverse, platform owners prepare themselves to navigate with a secure environment and prioritize a safe user experience because they can use their slogan as powerful marketing to drive business growth.
Client Vulnerabilities
VR and AR headsets are heavy devices with a lot of software and memory. In addition, fraud and device tampering enable actors to assume users’ identities and wreak havoc once they enter the Metaverse.
Privacy
As mentioned, there are no regulations in the Metaverse, yet users will typically have no awareness of the level of data they are providing. Unlike GDPR and other laws that have regional governance requirements, virtual experiences have no borders, and therefore, it is up to the platform owner and property owners to ensure privacy.
Conclusion
In the face of security threats in Metaverse, Metaverse platforms protect users’ data. But users and companies using Metaverse should be aware that their data is exposed to use by third parties through data leaks. Because of this, they must be cautious about the information they share out there.
Metaverse hacking is an issue that many users have discussed. But can it be trusted in terms of security? In general, in the Metaverse world, many measures have been taken for the safety of users and can be trusted. But the problem is the land or platform owners; are the platforms you use safe or not? This will require individual research on the platforms.
