4 Tips for Navigating Virtual Reality Safely

Written by Ivo Teel — April 26, 2024 at 08:47

Virtual reality (VR) has taken major leaps forward in recent years. With the release of the Apple Vision Pro in early 2024, people are starting to realize how truly powerful this technology is and how it’s likely to transform our lives.

As with most new ground-breaking technologies, widespread adoption brings tremendous opportunities and, unfortunately, significant challenges as well. This article will cover some of the main safety challenges associated with VR and offer strategies to mitigate them.

How to address the negative physical effects of VR use

VR headsets are unlike anything the human mind has ever had to deal with. It’s like entering a completely different world, which leads to unique challenges. Prolonged use as a beginner will likely lead to symptoms like motion sickness, eye strain, and headaches. 

• If you’re new to VR, it’s best to keep your sessions brief, ideally no longer than 30 minutes. Regular breaks will reduce eye strain and mental fatigue. As your mind gets used to the technology, you can try prolonging the sessions.

• Another must for reducing physical symptoms is adjusting the VR settings, such as brightness, contrast, and field of view (FOV). One study has shown that adjusting the FOV reduces VR sickness and allows users to adjust to VR more quickly. The same study also points out that how quickly things are happening on the screen can lead to discomfort. So, if there’s a way to reduce the speed within the VR environment, it will likely make the experience more comfortable.

Virtual threats associated with VR

Aside from physical discomfort, VR also brings some unique virtual challenges. The metaverse encourages interaction with strangers and fosters virtual communities. This can open individuals up to unwanted malicious attention like cyberbullying and scams. 

Social engineering attacks can be even more effective in the metaverse due to the immersive and trusting environments it creates. Investors and individuals have already lost thousands of dollars from buying fake properties in the metaverse. There are very little regulations about these scams, so users must take great personal accountability to remain safe.

Mitigate virtual threats with a password manager

One of the best tools for mitigating most virtual threats is a password manager. A password manager can greatly enhance your security in the metaverse by securely storing and managing your unique passwords for different virtual platforms and accounts. It will create complex, hard-to-guess passwords without the need to remember each one, significantly reducing the risk of account breaches.

If you don’t know where to start, the password manager comparison chart created by Reddit users can help you choose a reputable provider.

Gaming responsibly in VR

One of the primary use cases for VR is the elevated gaming experience. However, gaming rooms in the metaverse are also a breeding ground for various scams and spam.

For example, players might encounter fake contests that promise exclusive in-game items or currency in exchange for personal information or money. These scams often appear legitimate, mimicking the style and communication methods used by trusted developers and gaming platforms.

The major key to protecting against these threats is to never share personal information with strangers.

The benefits of a VPN for VR gaming

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) can greatly improve the gaming experience in the metaverse:

1. It enhances privacy by encrypting your internet connection

2. It provides access to geo-restricted content

3. Allows you to use your VR headset securely over public Wi-Fi

If you set up a VPN with port forwarding, you will also benefit from increased gaming speed and performance.

How to set up secure user profiles

Having a secure user account is often the determining factor for your privacy level. To secure your accounts, you must protect them with a strong password (that’s why a password manager is very useful) as well as two-factor authentication.

Once your account is secured, you should also explore the various privacy settings that may be available. 

Start by reviewing the default privacy settings on any platform. Often, these are set to be more open than you might prefer. Change them to limit who can see your information and interact with you. For instance, you might make your profiles visible only to friends or connections rather than publicly available.

Final thoughts

Virtual reality is an exciting new technology that will transform how we consume digital content and interact with each other. However, as with any technology, it comes with its own set of challenges and risks, particularly in terms of privacy and security.

As users, we must be proactive in securing our virtual presence. We must learn about the latest scams cybercriminals use and protect our accounts with strong credentials and strict privacy settings. Only then will we not simply solve issues created by the latest technology but benefit from it, as we should.