this game player They are known for being thrill-seekers, and some will do whatever it takes to gain a competitive advantage. Unfortunately, bad gaming habits can lead to malware and virus attacks, account takeovers, identity theft, crackdowns and doxxing, spyware, data breaches, DDoS attacks, and more.
Norton researchers have uncovered some real-life examples of how players have been hacked in their quest for glory and created a list of the “most hacked” video games.
suggestion: Whenever you are asked to disable or uninstall security software, be careful! Every time you disable a digital security feature, you automatically expose yourself to potential threats.
Based on 2022 data, the following games are most commonly used by threat actors to incite players to commit risky behavior, leading to online fraud. This list isn’t surprising, as it’s dominated by some of the gaming world’s most popular (and profitable) games, which is what makes them such attractive targets for scammers.
Threat Example: Fake Premium Account
Premium accounts usually offer greater gaming possibilities. The screenshot below shows a service claiming to grant premium accounts and asking players to provide a username and password. The service closely mimics the game’s style and brand identity, tricking users into entering their information. Once the data is shared, threats can not only hack the game but also use the password to access other digital accounts that are reused.
suggestion– Whenever you use a premium service, make sure that the service is provided directly by the game provider through its direct URL. Also, practice good password hygiene: Use unique and complex passwords and consider using a password manager to help you control them.
Threat Example: Code Malware
A slight advantage over your opponents can help players, which is why cheat codes have become a lucrative online business. Unfortunately, users are more likely to receive malware than genuine code when performing online searches. The following example shows a search for code from the popular multiplayer survival game Day Z: The search results in downloads of the RedLine Stealer malware.
suggestion: Generally speaking, you will enjoy the game more if you play it as is and without cheating. This method can also help you avoid malware infection.
Threat examples: YouTube video about baiting
Another example of malicious link sharing occurs in YouTube videos showing tips and tricks. Below is an example of a link from a video showing a hack for the popular game Call of Duty: Vanguard. Clicking the link prompts the user to download the Raccoon Stealer malware.
The download link points to:
suggestion: Whenever you are asked to disable or uninstall security software, be careful! Every time you disable a digital security feature, you automatically expose yourself to potential threats.
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