Cyber Security in Internet-Based Multiplayer Gaming

Internet-based multiplayer gaming has been used extensively over the past few years. The main concern that has arisen from online game distributers is the prevention of cheating. Most online games are organized through the client/server model. This is done in an attempt to prevent cheating, steering away from peer-to-peer applications which would be better for relieving the work load of servers by pushing tasks onto the clients, but in turn opens up Pandoraʹs box for hackers. The quest for better security in online games benefits both the players as well as the game developers. In this research work, we investigate current security issues in online multiplayer gaming as well as potential solutions to these problems. We discuss how cheats are usually centralized in the protocol level of the game design. These cheats will range from fixed-delay cheats to collusion cheats. Also discussed in this research work are four models that attempt to counterattack these exploits and in turn fix the cheating problem.