Roblox is an online game platform that allows game programmers to build games and lets gamers play games created by others. Games are created using the Lua programming language.
Most Roblox users, however, aren’t developers but gamers. There are tons of games available, from simply-coded games to more complex ones.
As with all online platforms, though, risks exist. Accounts can get compromised, and there is a rising prevalence of hackers scamming Roblox users by promising them free Robux (the Roblox platform currency).
In this article, I will discuss the different ways hackers target Roblox users and how to avoid getting scammed.
The short version: Roblox hacks usually use cookie loggers, phishing sites, or fake Robux scams to get Roblox users to share personal information or download a virus. By avoiding malicious sites and links, you can stay safe while playing Roblox.
If you want to learn how to protect yourself while using Roblox, read on!
Overview of Roblox
Roblox is an extremely popular gaming platform, with 43.2 million users active daily. It’s especially popular with children and teens, with over two-thirds of all users on the platform under the age of 16.
Due to the low age of most of Roblox’s gamers, they are more susceptible to scams and hacking attempts by malicious actors who prey on their ignorance and unfamiliarity with a lot of common scam techniques and hacking schemes.
There are over 40 million games on the platform, and Roblox users spend an average of 2.6 hours on the site a day. However, to purchase premium games and other perks, Roblox users need to spend Robux, the in-app currency.
You don’t actually need Robux, because there are so many free games available. However, some popular games aren’t free, and you either have to purchase Robux or earn them by doing things like creating your own game.
Because a lot of teens don’t have their own money, they fall prey to online scams that promise to hack the Roblox system and get them free Robux. These are just methods for hackers to gain access to your account or even hack your computer, which can allow them to access your personal information and use it for identity theft.
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Understanding Roblox Architecture
Before we can delve into the most common Roblox hacking techniques and how to avoid them, it’s important to have a basic understanding of Roblox architecture – how the site works, how game development works, etc.
Roblox games are written in Lua, a type of script. You may have heard of coding languages such as Java or Python; Lua is another programming language that is lightweight and simple.
Games are built in the Roblox Studio. However, while coding knowledge allows you to build complex, advanced games, knowing how to code is not a necessity for building Roblox games.
A lot of the games on Roblox are created by kids who have only basic coding skills. Lua is relatively simple to learn, with plenty of resources available online, and some things in the Roblox Studio don’t even require any real coding skills.
The Roblox architecture includes multiple security measures to protect users. For example, it allows users to enable two-factor authentication to ensure nobody can log into their accounts without permission.
In addition, it has a Report Abuse feature that allows users to report abuse by game developers and other Roblox users, including attempts at stealing personal information.
Common Types of Hacking Techniques in Roblox
With that said, let’s take a look at the most common types of exploits that scammers and hackers on Roblox use to hack accounts and steal personal information. By understanding how these scammers operate, you can get one up on them and evade their tactics.
Account Hijacking
Skilled hackers are able to hijack the accounts of unsuspecting Roblox users by using a variety of tactics. However, if you know what to look out for, you can usually prevent this.
There are a few ways hackers can hijack your account. If you have a weak password, it will be easy for hackers to use automated bots to brute-force their way into your account.
According to Reader’s Digest, the most common passwords include:
- Password
- Qwerty
- 123456789
- Abc123
- DEFAULT
These passwords are incredibly easy to hack and often the first ones hackers will attempt. However, any easy password can be guessed after enough attempts using a bot.
That’s why you need to choose your passwords carefully. I recommend using a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special symbols.
Never use any personal information, such as your name, birthdate, or address in your password, as a lot of that information can be found online. You should also create a password with at least 9–14 characters to make it harder for hackers to figure it out with a brute force attack.
You can also use Avast’s password generator to generate a strong password.
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Finally, never share your password, even with a friend. While you may be cautious, a lot of people are simply not educated on cybersecurity and may not protect your password carefully.
For example, they may log into your account from a public computer in a library or cybercafé and forget to log out. Or, they may allow the browser on that public laptop to save the password.
Another way hackers hijack accounts is via cookie logging. Cookie logging is a scary attack that allows hackers to enter your account by simply stealing your login cookie.
Now, stealing your login cookie from your browser isn’t always easy, but there are ways to do it. Malicious downloads or extensions may contain cookie loggers that can fetch your Roblox login cookie and use it to enter your account.
Hackers may also prey on unsuspecting people and ask them to send your personal information or files. They count on most people not knowing what those files contain and what they can be used for.
If any file has a “copy as HAR” option when you right-click on it, you should never send it to anyone, as it likely contains browser session data. You can read more about cookie logging on Roblox here.
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Lua Scripting Exploits
This scam isn’t as common as the others, but it is something to watch out for. Since anyone can create a game on Roblox using the Lua script, it’s possible for some hackers to create games with exploits in the code.
The best way to avoid this scam is to only join trusted games. If anyone invites you via DM on Discord or any platform – even on Roblox – with an invitation link to a new game, be cautious.
That’s because some of these games can contain exploits that can cause you to unintentionally say inappropriate things in the chat and lead to an account ban, as explained in this YouTube video.
According to Roblox, exploits may also try to download a keylogger or some other type of malware to your device. Again, the best way to avoid these scams is simply to join trusted games, not new ones that seem sketchy.
Finally, have an antivirus or antimalware program on your phone or computer. If possible, get one with active protection and a firewall, but even if you can’t afford one (many antivirus programs charge extra for active monitoring), at least run a scan once a week to check for malware and viruses.
Game Modifications (Modding)
Some games may attempt to steal your personal information by providing you with an official-looking form and asking you to enter your personal details, such as your Roblox account login information.
You should only enter your email and password when logging in on the official Roblox site before playing any game. You should never fill out an in-game form that asks you for personal data, even if it looks legit (these scammers are great at fooling even cautious people!).
If you do see a game that is asking you to enter personal information via a form, go to the game details page and use the Report Abuse feature to report the game to Roblox. This will help keep the entire community safe.
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Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks have existed for a long time – they’re nothing new. There are many ways Roblox hackers use phishing to steal your personal information, with fake Roblox sites being one of them.
The official Roblox site is Roblox.com. This is the only URL you should be using to visit Roblox.
Any other sites should be avoided. An example of a phishing site might be Roblux.xyz or Roblox-app.biz (I just made those up; those are not actual sites).
These sites may be posted on forums such as Reddit or third-party blogs. Scammers are very intelligent; they will often use a hypertext that says “Roblox.com” and then embed a link that takes you to a URL such as Roblox-app.biz.
That is why it is important to always check the URL contained in a hypertext instead of blindly following it. You do that by hovering your mouse over the hypertext and checking the URL that appears in the bottom-left corner of your laptop screen.
That fake site might look exactly like Roblox – scammers will replicate the homepage and login page. You will log into your account, thinking you are logging into Roblox when you are actually just providing the scammers with your login details and password.
These fake sites might do more than simply steal your login information. Some of them are compromised and will download viruses or malware to your computer.
The malware downloaded to your device may be able to monitor your activity, steal your passwords, show you unwanted ads, or perform other unwanted and unauthorized activities.
Not only do you have to be careful not to visit fake Roblox sites, but you must also be wary of any third-party browser extensions you download for Roblox.
Roblox itself hasn’t produced any official browser extensions, but various third-party developers have. Many are legit and can help you enjoy a better gaming experience, but some are malicious and may try to monitor your online activity or steal your information.
Only download extensions from trusted sites like the Google Chrome Store. Even then, only download popular extensions with plenty of good reviews; avoid new extensions that have no reviews or seem sketchy, as malicious extensions can creep into the Chrome Store.
Robux Scams
Finally, we have scams that center around offering free Robux or promising to “hack the Roblox system” to get free games.
A lot of people who really want to play a paid game but don’t have money get scammed by sites and people in DMs who seem to be offering free Robux.
Robux scams can come in many forms. Sometimes, hackers create posts on forums promising to offer free Robux to people who visit a certain site and play a lottery or game.
These sites are often phishing sites that can steal your information or download viruses to your laptop.
Other malicious actors ask you to send personal information, such as your Roblox login details, for them to send you your free Robux. They may ask you to copy files that contain your login cookies, send a screenshot of your account (which may contain personal information), or provide other personal details.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is! These free “Robux hack sites” or “free Robux generators” are almost always scams.
You should only get Robux through official methods, not through third-party cheat sites. No matter how tempting they seem, don’t fall for them!
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Impact of Hacking on the Roblox Community
Of course, these hacking attempts and scams are not without their effect on everyone connected to Roblox, whether they’re a player or developer.
The most profound effect is on players, who have to deal with the potential dangers that these scams present. The hackers are, after all, targeting players, not developers.
Players must be careful when they access Roblox.com, ensuring they are only visiting the official URL and not any fake ones. In addition, they must exercise caution when joining games or downloading third party extensions.
However, there is a certain effect on developers as well, as the presence of scammers means developers must earn the trust of players when developing new games.
Finally, there is the effect these hacking attempts have on the Roblox corporation itself. These malicious actors ruin the reputation of Roblox, which is why Roblox has implemented many measures to combat these scams.
Nevertheless, Roblox must continue to stress the importance of preventative measures and must ensure its users understand that third-party sites promising free Robux are simply scams.
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Countermeasures Against Hacking in Roblox
Online safety is mostly about taking simple preventative measures to protect yourself. Most hackers use common exploits that work because so many people don’t know the basics of cybersecurity.
Here are some countermeasures that will help protect all Roblox users.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication requires you to enter a verification code sent to your email address when logging in. That ensures that even if someone manages to figure out your password, they won’t be able to access your account without access to your email.
If you use the same password for your email, though, they can easily access your email as well.
Roblox also supports 2FA via an authenticator app on your phone. These authenticator apps give you codes that expire quickly, so they are much more secure than 2FA via email.
Finally, you can use a security key for two-factor authentication. These are physical devices that you stick into your laptop to verify your identity when you want to log in.
The benefit is that it is the most secure method of 2FA to combat remote hacking attempts, because some authenticator apps allow you to log in and sync your codes across devices. However, the disadvantage is that if you lose your physical key, you won’t be able to verify your identity.
Also, if someone breaks into your home, they can find your physical key and use that to access your devices. An alternative to using a physical key is using biometric authentication, if supported by your laptop or desktop computer.
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Account and Privacy Settings
When setting up your account, add an email address, so you can reset your password if you forget it. Also, you can use that same email address for 2FA.
Don’t share your account with others or add someone else’s email to your account, because they will be able to use it to recover your password.
Anti-Exploit Systems and Software
You should have an antivirus program like Norton on your computer or phone that can scan for malware. Some antiviruses can also scan files and websites for security issues, which can help you avoid potential phishing attempts and virus downloads.
Even if you don’t have Roblox, having an antivirus program is essential, as it’s one of your first lines of defense against hackers.
Education and Awareness
The most important prevention against hackers is to understand how they operate. Most hackers bank on the fact that most people just don’t know much about online security.
That’s why they send mass spam emails with compromised attachments that contain viruses. They know that out of the thousands of people who receive the email, there will be many who are unaware that you shouldn’t open spam emails with attachments.
It’s critical to follow cybersecurity news as well, so you can learn more about new methods hackers use to steal personal information online.
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Role of the Roblox Corporation in Combating Hacking
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko, Pexels
Fortunately, Roblox has taken various measures to combat hackers. For example, it has implemented some of the measures I discussed above, such as giving users the option to protect their accounts with two-factor authentication.
Not only that, but Roblox has also implemented an abuse reporting system so that users can report developers or games that are trying to take advantage of players in one way or another.
Roblox also has many articles that inform its users about how to keep themselves safe.
For example, this article warns that if anyone promises you free Robux but requests some information for it to work, they are probably trying to steal your account. It also details the various measures users can take to safeguard their accounts and avoid falling victim to such scams.
It is unclear whether Roblox is planning to implement yet additional measures to combat hackers. However, the company is constantly updating the platform to fix bugs and security flaws that can harm the safety of its users.
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Case Studies
Photo by Andri, Pexels
Some Roblox hacks have been minor, while others have been more serious. For example, some years back, before the 2020 presidential election, numerous accounts were hacked and messages were sent to the friends of the hacked account owners.
These messages advised people to support Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election. Meanwhile, profiles were hacked with messages telling people to tell their parents to support Trumps, while their avatars were changed to wear “MAGA gear.”
This might seem like a minor hacking incident, because the goal of the hackers, in this case, was political and not to steal information. However, it just shows that if the hackers wanted to, they could probably have stolen a lot of information and sold it on the dark web – and perhaps they did.
In another hacking incident, hackers this time targeted an employee of Roblox and managed to obtain sensitive information. They managed to obtain 4 GB of documents that contained personal information about Roblox and Roblox content creators.
After the incident, Roblox fine-tuned their security operations and introduced new measures to prevent such attempts from happening again in the future.
Finally, we have the interesting case of “Hacker Jenna,” a Roblox developer who was also an expert hacker and claimed to have figured out a way to exploit the system to steal other people’s account information and get their Robux. Fortunately, Roblox banned her from the platform.
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Conclusion
Cybercrime continues to be a big issue, and as long as Roblox is around, hackers will attempt to manipulate Roblox users into providing personal information that can jeopardize their online safety.
Fortunately, Roblox users have become a lot smarter at detecting these hacking attempts. Many people are now aware that there is no such thing as free Robux generators or tricks that can “take advantage of a glitch” in the Roblox system.
I encourage all of you to take the preventative measures listed in this article to protect your account, such as using a strong password and enabling two-factor authentication.
All in all, Roblox is a safe platform, as long as you exercise standard safety precautions that are important for all kinds of online activity, not just on Roblox.
Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing. I started my first e-commerce company in college, designing and selling t-shirts for my campus bar crawl using print-on-demand. Having successfully established multiple 6 & 7-figure e-commerce businesses (in women’s fashion and hiking gear), I think I can share a tip or 2 to help you succeed.