As a result, the usual security tools and techniques do not provide the required protection.
This gave me a front-row seat to watch the massive amount of fraud enabled by this online system.
At the same time, I have always been a gamer.
I always looked for a way to get back into the gaming field professionally.
Why is there a need for a company to focus exclusively on online video gaming security?
What needs are there that the regular or general cyber security tools and approaches do not address?
Most people do not realize how much money is involved in gaming.
That is more than the Hollywood and music industries combined.
Since so much money is at stake, hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and brazen in their attacks.
So, that is why you specify protecting in-game cyber- attacks?
Those are the most serious, and unique, threats to online gaming.
Reputation is a financial problem.
A bad experience can instantly destroy an online game.
That is why security, especially in-game security, is of such great concern to game publishers and operators.
These are the types of games that are the most heavily monetized.
Our primary project is what we named Watchtower a tool for attack research and alerts.
It is based on mathematical algorithms, rather that rules and reports.
We are able to detect suspicious or irregular game events and then notify the game operator.
This allows all of the support staff to administer the game from a single point.
How do you define your market?
Who is your specific target audience within that market?
What methods do you normally use to attract and engage with new customers?
We attend many gaming conferences and meet a lot of potential customers who approach us there.
We also do direct outreach to executives at both publisher and developer companies.
How many active customers do you have today?
Where are they mainly located?
We are currently focusing on the US and Europe.
The Asian market is huge, but we are not investing in that part of the world yet.
We are currently negotiating with another six very large game companies.
Whom do you see as your main competitors?
There are many security companies out there trying to rebrand or add components for the gaming industry.
How do you see your tools as different and/or better than theirs?
No one besides us has tried to build an integrated, centralized, and holistic security system for gamers.
The industry is currently a patchwork of different tools from a variety of vendors.
We focus on detecting if/when someone has hacked the system frominsideof the game client.
How do you see security in the gaming industry evolving in the coming years?
That is an interesting question, but a tough one to answer.
The bad guys will always surprise you some of them are very, very smart and well educated.
They are also constantly developing sophisticated tools and analytics.
The gaming industry really needs to figure out how to respond rapidly to malicious attacks.
What are your future plans for Panopticon Labs?
How many employees do you have today?
Where are they located?
We are a very small company.
We hired many contractors to help us build the product.
We need to be constantly watching the bad guys, without them knowing it.
How many hours a day do you normally work?
What do you like to do when you are not working?
The question you posed cannot be answered in the manner it was presented.
During my leisure time, I engage in playing games, where I continuously analyze and contemplate.
I consider myself fortunate as my recreational activities align with my professional passion.
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