Player behavior and its impact on cybersecurity threats in online gaming

The global mass adoption of online gaming has created significant cybersecurity risks, particularly those targeting players and gaming platforms. While existing research often focuses on technical infrastructure, a critical gap remains in understanding the role of user behavior and psychological factors in enabling these threats. This paper examines the intersection of behavioral patterns and cybersecurity risks within online gaming environments. We employed a systematic literature review and synthesis model, analyzing findings from academic databases (Scopus, IEEE Xplore) and industry reports from 2011-2024 to construct a holistic behavioral risk profile, collecting no primary data. Our findings reveal that many security incidents result from the exploitation of social interactions and psychological vulnerabilities rather than purely technical flaws. We identify key behavioral trends, including poor password hygiene, a lack of digital literacy, and engagement in risky activities such as using unofficial cheats, which significantly increase player susceptibility. The study concludes with the Collaborative Human-Centric Defense Framework, providing actionable recommendations for developers to integrate security-by- design principles and for players to enhance their digital awareness, thereby fostering a more resilient online gaming ecosystem.