"Game-Related Cyber-Threats: Almost 100k Malicious Files Last Year"

Security researchers at Kaspersky disocvered that the total number of users who faced gaming-related malware and unwanted software from July 01, 2021, through June 30, 2022, was 384,224, with 91,984 files distributed across 28 games or series of games.  According to the researchers, the top five PC games or game series used as bait in the attacks targeting the largest number of users were Minecraft, Roblox, Need for Speed, Grand Theft Auto, and Call of Duty.  In the first half of 2022, the researchers said they observed a noticeable increase in the number of users attacked by programs that can steal secrets, with a 13% increase over the first half of 2021.  In the same period, attackers also boosted up their efforts to spread Trojan–PSW.  The researchers noted that 77% of secret-stealing malware infection cases were linked to Trojan–PSW.  In terms of types of threats, the researchers said the overall landscape that affects gamers had not changed much since last year, with downloaders (88.56%) topping the list of malicious and unwanted software being spread using the names of popular games.  Adware (4.19%) comes second, followed by Trojans (2.99%) and DangerousObject (0.86%).  The researchers noted that the gaming industry has grown increasingly over the years, and they expect to see new ways of abusing users next year.  The researchers recommend that for players to stay safe while gaming, they should use two–factor authentication (2FA), unique and strong passwords, and only download games from official stores.

Infosecurity reports: "Game-Related Cyber-Threats: Almost 100k Malicious Files Last Year"