Mysterious Malware Targets Gamers, Steals Bitcoin and Personal Info
Summary:
An unidentified malware is reportedly targeting video gamers, stealing their Bitcoin wallets and personal information by exploiting pay-to-cheat video game software. Over 4.9 million accounts related to Activision Blizzard, Battle.net, Elite PVPers, PhantomOverlay, and UnknownCheats have been compromised. Affected users have reported crypto drainage from their Electrum BTC wallets. PhantomOverlay, while agreeing to cooperate with Activision Blizzard, noted that the malware originates from a network of inexpensive/free software widely used by gamers. Despite this, concrete proof remains elusive.
There has reportedly been a surge in mysterious malware specifically impacting video gamers, stealing not only their Bitcoin (BTC) wallets but also their personal information. This new wave of cybercrime, detected by vx-underground, a popular malware data hub, noted that this unidentified offender has been exploiting paid cheat software for their attacks. It's reported that victims of this crime include players who invest in cheat software, resulting in over 4.9 million Activision Blizzard and Battle.net accounts being compromised, alongside accounts from Elite PVPers, PhantomOverlay and UnknownCheats, online gaming platforms, and cheat software marketplaces.
Users affected have noticed their Electrum BTC wallets being gradually depleted. However, vx-underground claims they do not possess specific details regarding the total sum stolen to date. As per a recent statement by PhantomOverlay on Telegram, the figure of hacked account is exaggerated as more than half of the compromised database entries are false.
They elaborate that the malware comes from a network of inexpensive or free software, perhaps even a latency program or VPN widely used by gamers. They further claimed this is the most severe info stealing malware campaign ever witnessed in the gaming community.
Despite suspicions about the origin of the malware, PhantomOverlay acknowledges the difficulty in gathering concrete proof due to the proactive measures taken by the cyber culprits. The gaming giant Activision Blizzard has assured cooperation to help the impacted user base following their engagement with the cheat-offering site.
In a conversation with Cointelegraph, an Activision Blizzard representative acknowledged that their industry might be at risk from malware distributed via unauthorized software. It was assured that their servers remain secure and they suggest their users to change their passwords to maintain safety. vx-underground had reported suspicious activity on PhantomOverlay accounts, like unauthorized purchases, leading to the identification of more affected users.
Published At
3/29/2024 6:01:47 AM
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