New videogames abused by Malware that steals credentials and credit card details, research shows

In the first half of 2022, Kaspersky researchers detected increased activity of cybercriminals abusing gamers. In attempts to download new games from untrustworthy resources for free, the number of users attacked by malicious software spread under the guise of some of the most popular gaming titles has increased by 13% compared to the first half of 2021.

Between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022, Kaspersky security solutions detected more than 384,000 gamers attacked by almost 92,000 malicious or unwanted unique files that mimicked 28 games or series of games. In addition to the large number of downloaders that are able to install other unwanted programs, adware, and Trojan-Spies – a category of spyware capable of tracking any data entered on the keyboard and taking screenshots - were detected.

The research also revealed a growth in attacks made with malicious software that steals sensitive data from infected devices. This included Trojan-PSW, which gathers victims’ credentials, Trojan-Banker, which steals payment data, and Trojan-GameThief, software which collects login information for gaming accounts.

David Emm, Principal Security Researcher at Kaspersky GReAT, commented: “People receive malicious files when they try to download games not from official sites, but from third-party web pages. Attackers purposely seek to spread threats under the guise of the most popular games or new releases. Best-selling games Roblox, FIFA and Minecraft were actively abused by attackers who spread RedLine malware under their identity.”

RedLine is password-stealing software which extracts sensitive data from the victim’s device such as passwords, saved bank card details, cryptocurrency wallets, and credentials for VPN services. From July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 Kaspersky solutions detected 2,362 unique users attacked with RedLine, spread under the guise of popular games, which makes it the most active threat family for the period given. Redline is usually sold for a very low price on various hacker forums and has gained huge popularity among cybercriminals.

In addition to spreading malicious files, attackers continue to actively create and spread new phishing pages in the gaming sphere. For the first time Kaspersky experts discovered a new scheme of phishers attacking gamers. Mimicking the whole interface of in-game stores for CS:GO, PUBG and Warface, scammers create fraudulent pages offering potential victims an arsenal of weapons and artifacts for free. To receive the gift, players need to enter login data from their social network accounts, such as Facebook or Twitter. After taking over accounts, attackers are likely to search through personal messages for card details, or ask various friends of the victims for money, preying on their trust and carelessness.

“The gaming industry saw huge growth during the pandemic, increasing the number of gaming fans several times over. As we can see, cybercriminals are actively abusing this trend, creating more and more new schemes and tools to attack players and steal their credit card data and even game accounts, which can contain expensive skins that can later be sold. We expect to see new types of attacks on gamers in the next year. For example, strikes on e-sports, which are now gaining huge popularity around the world. That's why it's so important to always be protected, so you don't lose your money, credentials, and gaming account,” comments Anton V. Ivanov, senior security researcher at Kaspersky.

To read about other gaming-related threats in 2022 download the full report on Securelist.

UK Top Ten Games Most At Risk

To stay safe while gaming, Kaspersky recommends:

• Download your games from official stores like Steam, Apple App Store, Google Play or Amazon Appstore only. Games from these markets are not 100 % secure, but they at least are checked by store representatives and there is some kind of screening system: not every app can get into these stores.
• If you wish to buy a game that is not available through major stores, purchase them from the official website only. Double-check the URL of the website and make sure it is authentic.
• Beware of phishing campaigns and unfamiliar gamers. Do not open links received by email or in a game chat unless you trust the sender. Do not open files you get from strangers.
• Do not download pirated software or any other illegal content, even if you are redirected to it from a legitimate website.
• A strong, reliable security solution will be a great help to you, especially if it will not slow down your computer while you are playing, but at the same time, it will protect you from all possible cyberthreats. For example, Kaspersky Total Security works smoothly with Steam and other gaming services.
• Use a robust security solution to protect yourself from malicious software and its activity on mobile devices, such as Kaspersky Internet Security for Android.