The increase in the number of online players since the beginning of the epidemic has also increased attempts to steal accounts, bank information and even some in-game items. Minecraft and Roblox stand out as the games where such attacks are experienced the most.
During the pandemic, many people turned to online games to spend time at home. The video game industry is one of the sectors that were positively affected by the pandemic. The global market value of video games is expected to exceed $200 billion this year. According to a report by cybersecurity company Kaspersky, a sharp increase has been detected in attacks specifically targeting online players.
The firm analyzed the data of the threats it detected. For analysis, the company made a list of 28 popular games, including Minecraft, Roblox, Need for Speed, Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty. The company then analyzed the threats to actual players by searching the references on the list. The number of attacks targeting these games increased by 13% in the first half of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.
Stealing passwords, bank details, in-game items…
In particular, hackers install malware on the user’s computer by offering free versions of games. They can also unintentionally install malicious software on your computer through game-related mods (modifications or game extensions), cheats or tools.
The purpose of hackers is to capture important information such as users’ passwords, game accounts, bank information.
Kaspersky has also identified a number of different methods used by hackers. One of them is e-fraud; Hackers seize victims’ money or accounts with fake sites that impersonate the game site or in-game store and offer fake benefits or items.
When attempting to identify the victim account, hackers can gain access to it and reclaim any payment method on file and even resell in-game items that can be of great value.
To protect yourself from such threats, follow the recommendations: always check the address of a site before logging in, as well as download games from official game download sites (Steam, GooglePlay, Epic Games) and enable two-factor authentication.
