Global Fortnite Hacking Network – Even the Teens Are Making Bank!
You’ve heard of thieves stealing art or jewelry and then selling them on the black market for one hell of a profit. You’ve probably seen the infinite number of movies that base their plot on that idea. Did you know, though, that that’s not something limited to the real world? A global Fortnite hacking network is stealing the accounts of other players and selling the “skins” on the e-black market, and they are making one hell of a profit.
What’s the Deal with the Global Fortnite Hacking Network?
We all know that Fortnite is a free-to-play game. However, you can make decent coin trading in exclusive and rare skins. While this isn’t illegal, some people just don’t want to play by the rules.
Around 20 hackers told the BBC that they’ve been stealing people’s accounts and selling the skins on the black market. (Yes, e-games have a black market…)
One of the hackers, who apparently is only 14 years old, gave the BBC a “tell-all” account on how the hacks are taking place. Here’s how the Global Fortnite Hacking Network is operating:
- They have access to usernames and passwords published online gathered from different data breaches.
- Then, they use “off-the-shelf” hacking tools to utilize those credentials.
- They take over the account, turning on 2FA to stop the actual owner from taking it back.
- After assessing the “loot”, they sell it to a very responsive online community.
He also said that his first Fortnite crack landed him an easy £1,500 payload!
Hacking isn’t something new in the gaming community, and this definitely isn’t the first we’ve heard about a Fortnite hack. However, it is something that you can prevent.
How to Keep Your Fornite Account Safe
Turn On Your 2FA
One more time for the audience in the back:
Turn. On. Your. Two. Factor. Authentication.
Do you know what the first thing these hackers are doing when they get their hands on an account? They’re turning on 2FA.
I cannot stress how important this particular feature is. With this on, even if they have your password, they will not be able to access your account. This is probably one of the most important cautionary security features out there today, and I still don’t see people using it.
Here’s how to turn 2FA on your Fortnite account:
- Go to EpicGames.com
- Log in to your account.
- Go to Account Settings.
- Click on Password & Security.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication.
- Pick the authentication option you like best (email or app). I suggest using an authentication app.
There. It’s that simple. Now please, go do it. This is so important that Epic even added a bonus to people who turn this feature on. You get free in-game accessories.
Pick a Strong and Unique Password
This tip should be another no-brainer, but it is something we all end up messing up.
Let’s say you’re using the same password for your Fortnite account as the one you use for Social Media. One day, your SM account gets hacked and your password is exposed. You change your SM password but keep the same one for Fortnite (or anything else). Now, you have an exposed password “protecting” that account.
In order to avoid that, you need to create a strong and unique password for any account that you have. I know this is annoying, and keeping track of loads of passwords seems impossible. I suggest you utilize a password manager for this. Better yet, make an excel sheet with your account and passwords and KEEP IT OFFLINE.
Do not:
- Use common words.
- Add names that mean something to you (like pet names, family names, or anything someone can guess)
- Forget to use symbols in your password. The more diverse, the merrier.
- Ditch incorporating numbers and capitalization when creating a password.
Game With a VPN
My final tip for keeping your Fortnite account secure is to consistently use a VPN when you’re gaming.
Short for virtual private network, a VPN is a tool that encrypts your data and re-routes your traffic through its own secure servers.
This means that a VPN will stop anyone from stealing your data or hacking into your connection, including your ISP. Make sure to turn your VPN on the moment you connect to the internet (or, better yet, install it on your router).
Our VPN experts have already written a detailed article on the best VPNs you can use for Fortnite.
TLDR: ExpressVPN landed in the top spot for its all-around impeccable service, which you can read about here.
I also encourage you to check out our articles that detail why a VPN can boost your Fortnite experience, bypass a Fortnite IP ban, and even unblock the game at school (or work, or anywhere else!).
Global Fortnite Hacking Network – Final Thoughts
So, hopefully this article finally convinces you to take a more proactive approach towards your security. I understand the allure of online gaming, that is literally all I do when I get home in the evening. That being said, the gaming community isn’t the friendliest or the most ethical community out there. This global Fortnite hacking network isn’t a new phenomenon. It’s very important to know how you can protect yourself while gaming and to stay up-to-date with any new security feature developers drop. Believe me, it’s always better to be safe than sorry… I learned that the hard way back when WoW was literally my entire life.