Okay,
so this writing comes from the parental side of my brain. It most
definitely has impact on the insurance community.
The
new smartphone app Pokémon Go begins with a warning screen. It is not a
parental warning about violence. It is not a statement from the American
Academy of Pediatrics that kids should limit their gaming to about two hours
daily. Pokémon Go wants players to avoid physical trauma.
While
mobile games can be dangerously absorbing to begin with, playing them
while walking down the street poses significant risks.
If
that were not bad enough, criminals have already found a way to exploit
the game. Reports of players being attacked, robbed and hospitalized are
emerging. Players can send a “beacon” to other users via the game, signifying
that a Pokémon might by nearby. It is feared this feature could be hijacked by
criminals.
Security
experts are warning that hundreds of thousands of people desperate to play the
game are downloading unofficial versions which contain malware which reveals to
criminals the entire contents of their phone, including their location.
Risks
of Playing the Game:
Robberies
or abduction
A
group of 11 youngsters were robbed in Missouri after criminals sent a beacon to
a secluded area by using the game’s location technology to create a signal at a
“Pokéstop” - a location that players can visit to replenish in-game supplies.
Fears are now building that the game could be used by pedophiles to lure
children into remote areas.
Personal
injury
A
number of players have reported injuring themselves while using the game. The
main concerns here involve children not looking as they cross the road and
wandering away from their parents into hazardous locations where they may hurt
themselves.
Nasty
findings
In
the US, trying to catch Pokémon led a teenager to a dead body in a river.
Data
theft
Experts
are warning that fake versions of the game are designed by criminals who want
to steal people’s data. Consumers who download versions containing malware risk
the entire contents of their phone being stolen.
Additional
reading can be found on this subject on propertycasualty360.com
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