Minecraft most malware-infected game, with over 155,000 users affected
The gaming industry continues to grow at an unprecedented rate which, in turn, creates a large attack surface for cybercriminals to abuse. However, it turns out that fraudsters prefer to infect some games more than others.
Knowing which games are most commonly ridden with unwanted software allows users to stay on their toes when dealing with the game itself or with various mods, skins, etc.
The following data presented by Atlas VPN will uncover the most malware-infected PC and mobile games, which can steal the user’s sensitive data, like login credentials and access to bank accounts. Kaspersky provided the data for the analysis.
The figures above reveal that Minecraft is by far the most favored game by hackers on desktop and mobile platforms.
As many as 131k PC users downloaded malware-infected Minecraft games between July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.
Roblox (38,838), Need for Speed (32,314), Grand Theft Auto (31,752), and Call of Duty (30,401) also appeared on the list of most infected PC games.
In total, 371,877 PC users encountered malware by downloading the ten games mentioned in the chart.
Moving on to mobile statistics, close to 90% of malicious software targeting phones and tablets were delivered through the “pocket edition” of Minecraft.
Card-details stealing malware
The analysis also revealed that the vast majority (76.87%) of malware found in the aforementioned video games distributes the Trojan-PSW/RedLine Stealer malware family.
The ReadLine Stealer’s primary capability is stealing data from browsers, such as passwords, cookies, card details, autofill data, cryptocurrency wallet data, credentials for VPN services, and so on.
The stolen data is then transferred to a remote command and control server controlled by the attackers, who attempt to drain the victim’s accounts by using the illegally acquired information.
Contact your bank immediately upon noticing any suspicious banking activity, like foreign transactions.
Closing remarks
In general, most issues result from downloading “cracked” games from third-party websites, commonly torrenting sites. So, it is crucial to follow security tips for gaming.
Games on third-party websites rarely undergo strict security checks, which is a dream come true for cybercriminals. Even if a website showcases security badges or promises that its games are checked for viruses, trusting such gimmicks can be detrimental to your online safety.
Wanting to play a game you can’t afford but instead losing the last bit of money you had can be devastating. Hopefully, the findings presented will enhance the reader’s cyber threat awareness and protect them from becoming a victim of a hacking incident.
In addition, a lot of threats can be counteracted by enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) on all of your accounts, coupled with unique passwords. Of course, downloading games from legitimate retailers only goes without saying. Stay safe!
