Metaverse: Risks associated with it and how to mitigate them.

In case you missed the previous article where metaverse and its advantages were explained, please click on this link to read

Risks associated with the metaverse and how to mitigate them.

As the boundaries between reality and the virtual worlds are gradually but steadily getting blurred. The innovation of the metaverse technology keeps increasing, the concerns of the risk associated with the rise of the metaverse technology has slowly gained traction and voice. Here are some negative effects (both technical and generic):

Intrusion of Data privacy: The metaverse might end up being where most of us would spend our time. Which means we would leave a digital trail for every of our activities done in the metaverse. Every data trail can be compiled to create a pattern that can be observed, analyzed and sold to the highest bidder, especially advertising firms to create highly personalized ads. Which makes it easy to harvest data and intrude in data privacy or data can easily fall into the wrong hands.
Legacy Security Issues: As attackers seek for chances for fraud, theft, and disruption, existing web, application, identity security and general security concerns are predicted to surface swiftly on metaverse platforms.
Unpatched Hardwares: As we have seen that hardwares have a big part to play in the immersive experience presented by the metaverse, it is important to note that there are some firmwares and softwares that will drive this experience. Risks are presented when these firmwares and softwares are not patched timely, an action which will grant unauthorized actors with malicious intent access.

Cyberbullying just got a lot easier: In the virtual world you can assume a totally different avatar which makes it almost impossible to track the bullies.

Addiction to the virtual world: There is a very high tendency for people to cut themselves off from reality and live in a virtual world inside their homes rather than out in society. The virtual world can be replicated to suit the taste of the user which makes it a fantasy that has come alive. Unfortunately, there have been few instances in the past where some young adults have died while on their computers because they were so immersed in whatever they were involved in online that they weren’t interested in having proper meals which led to their deaths.

Increased pressure on social standard: With the help.of the eventual technology, luxuries will become easily available. Unfortunately, we know that it is not altogether possible to air all luxuries free and easily experienced which will furthermore lead to an increase in social standard. The need to achieve certain levels in the virtual world, to create a fantasy world will become rampant.