Community ManagerEA Forums Online Security Newsletter - Volume 4/ 2026
Welcome to the fourth edition of EA Forums Online Security Newsletter
Hey everyone, and welcome back to another edition of the EA Forums Online Security Newsletter.
Last month, we explored mod safety and the risks that can come with downloading external content. Many of you shared thoughtful experiences, useful safety tips, and great discussions around trusted sources and safe modding habits. If you missed the previous edition, feel free to revisit it and join the conversation.
This month, we’re focusing on something that affects nearly every online multiplayer game: voice chat and social engineering. Whether you're coordinating with teammates, joining random squads, or chatting in community servers, voice communication has become a huge part of online gaming. Unfortunately, attackers and bad actors know this too. Manipulation, impersonation, scams, and social pressure often start with something as simple as a friendly conversation.
Understanding how these tactics work can help you recognize warning signs early and protect both your accounts and personal information while gaming online.
- A lot of online games today rely heavily on voice chat. Whether it’s coordinating during a match, chatting in a squad, or hanging out in community servers, hearing someone’s voice can make interactions feel more genuine and trustworthy. That’s exactly why scammers and bad actors often use voice communication as part of social engineering attempts.
- Many players still associate scams mainly with fake emails or suspicious websites, but plenty of manipulation starts through ordinary in-game conversations. Someone may act helpful, offer rewards, claim they can assist with account issues, or encourage players to click links outside the game. In most cases, the goal is to build trust first and take advantage of it later.
- Anyone who has played competitive multiplayer games knows how quickly stressful situations can affect decision-making. During tense matches or fast-moving conversations, players are more likely to react without stopping to think critically. Some attackers use this pressure intentionally by pretending to be moderators, tournament organizers, or experienced players who insist certain software or links are “required.”
- It’s also surprisingly easy to reveal too much personal information during casual voice chats. Small details about your age, location, school, social media accounts, or gaming routines may not seem important on their own, but over time they can be pieced together and used for impersonation, scams, or targeted attacks. A lot of social engineering works through collecting information gradually rather than all at once.
- Another common tactic involves moving conversations away from the game itself. A player might ask others to join a private Discord server, switch to another messaging app, or continue chatting through direct messages. Once conversations leave official platforms, moderation and safety protections are often much weaker, making it easier for scammers to share malicious links, fake giveaways, phishing pages, or infected downloads.
- Voice chat can also become a source of harassment and intimidation if boundaries are ignored. Some players dismiss toxic behavior as “just part of gaming,” but repeated harassment, threats, or attempts to expose personal information should always be taken seriously. Features like muting, blocking, and reporting exist for a reason and are important tools for protecting yourself online.
- Not every social engineering attempt feels suspicious right away. In many cases, attackers are patient and deliberately friendly. They may spend days or even weeks building familiarity before attempting to scam someone or gain access to personal information. Being cautious online does not mean distrusting everyone, but it does mean remembering that friendliness alone is not proof that someone is safe.
- At the end of the day, it helps to approach online conversations with the same level of caution you would use anywhere else on the internet. Avoid sharing unnecessary personal details, be skeptical of unsolicited links or downloads, and take a moment to think whenever someone creates pressure or urgency. Slowing down and double-checking things can often prevent a simple mistake from becoming a much bigger security problem.
Voice Chat Moderation in Battlefield 2042
https://help.ea.com/en/articles/battlefield/battlefield-2042/voice-chat-moderation/
How to Report a Player
https://help.ea.com/no/articles/battlefield/battlefield-6/report-a-player/
How to Avoid Phishing
https://help.ea.com/en/articles/security-and-rules/avoid-phishing/
EA Forums Online Security Newsletter Badge Handbook
Last edition’s discussion around mod safety generated a lot of valuable conversations. We’ve shared personal experiences, practical advice, and thoughtful reminders about how easily malicious content can hide behind something that appears harmless at first glance.
The highlighted replies below stood out for their educational value, relevance to the topic, and the way they helped reinforce safe habits for both experienced mod users and newer players exploring mods for the first time.
Mod Safety Checklist Worth Bookmarking
Highlighted Comment by Bafanc
Interesting and helpful as always! Unfortunately, the topic of mods being dangerous is close to home for me, because my son downloads a lot of mods for games like Minecraft and Terraria, and I'm constantly worried about my home network being compromised. And now that you mention it, my antivirus subscription has expired!
Recognized for:
- Bringing attention to online safety from a parent’s perspective
- Highlighting how mod risks can affect entire households and networks
Understanding How Malicious Mods Work
Highlighted Comment by rosemow
Malicious mods work by disguising themselves as a mod that offers something that adds a new feature to the game, or extra content, or perhaps to help fix an issue in the game.Then when you download the mod, a virus or malware is hidden in the mod code that unleashes onto your computer system when the mod is installed which can infect the computer,steal your personal data, or cause damage to your game.
Highlighted for:
- Clearly explaining how social engineering and disguise tactics work
- Connecting mod safety directly to malware and data theft risks
Staying Careful Even on Familiar Sites
Highlighted Comment by Ellupelluellu
Also lately there has been many hacked accounts around sites where you download mods from (my case sims4 mods) , made to include harmful malware.
It is very important and safe to know what kind of file format these are (package-files or ts4script files. normally, there is never things like exe files if just a simple mod).
Just do not download everything just because you assume it is okay.
Recognized for:
- Raising awareness about compromised creator accounts and fake uploads
- Encouraging players to learn what legitimate mod files should look like
A big thank you to everyone who participated in the discussion, shared experiences, or offered advice throughout the thread. Community conversations like these help players stay informed, ask better questions, and make safer choices online.
Stay safe, and thanks again for helping make the forums a more informed and welcoming place for everyone 🙂
