Empty Threats

Introduction

Many users worry about potential threats and often run their servers with fear of “bad actors” on the internet. These individuals may claim they want to hack, destroy your server, or even take legal action. In reality, these are usually empty threats that can be ignored. If someone truly has the means to cause harm, there would be clear signs of it.

Below, we outline several common scenarios and explain the severity of each one to help you understand what to look out for.

Nitrado Support Agent Demanding Payment

Occasionally, someone pretending to be a Nitrado support agent might visit your server and demand money. Rest assured, if you haven’t paid, your server wouldn’t be online. We guarantee that no Nitrado employee will ever join your server unless you’ve submitted a support request. Nitrado operates on a PREPAID BASIS, so you will never be forced to pay under duress. If any attempt is made to deceive Nitrado, services may be terminated, but only if the action was illegal.

Threats of “Hacking” Your Server

The likelihood of your server being hacked is extremely low. While there are individuals known as “crackers” who attempt to breach servers, they are typically motivated by financial gain. There are different types of hackers, including White-hat, Grey-hat, and Black-hat hackers. For more detailed information on these, you can refer to the Wiki article General Security.

Since Nitrado owns the server hardware, not the user, there is little that a hacker can do to directly extort you. In most cases, when a server is compromised, it’s due to the abuse of an exploit rather than a true hack.

Server Unreachable Due to a (D)DoS Attack

While it’s possible for a server to become unreachable due to a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, Nitrado game servers are equipped to defend against these attacks. A DDoS attack floods the network with unnecessary traffic, overwhelming the server. These attacks typically come from multiple computers, sometimes numbering in the thousands.

Fortunately, Nitrado has systems in place to mitigate the impact of such attacks. For more details, see the General Security article.

“I Have Your IP, and I Will Report It”

If someone threatens to report your IP, the best response, assuming you’ve done nothing illegal, is a simple “Go ahead.” These threats are typically just scare tactics and rarely result in any actual follow-up.

Conclusion

This information is based on experience and general knowledge and should not be considered legal advice. If you have a more specific scenario or still feel concerned, please consider creating a thread on the Nitrado forum for further assistance.

Remember, it’s always best to stay informed and calm in the face of threats. Nitrado is here to support you and ensure your server runs smoothly.