Security researchers have uncovered a new malware campaign targeting users of cheatware for the popular battle royale title Call of Duty: Warzone. In a lengthy report, publisher Activision outlines the attack method, which sees the malware disguised as a Warzone cheat and distributed via online gaming forums. When the download is triggered, a type of malware called a dropper is installed on the victim's machine, setting the stage for further attacks and data theft. "The dropper reviewed in this report, 'Cod Dropper v0.1', can be customized to install other, more destructive malware on targeted machines," Activision explained. The malware architect also went to great lengths to ensure that even the simplest threat actors could execute the attack. In one article, the dropper is described as ideal for "newbies looking to make some easy money" and "a good bait for your first malware project." According to Activision, the campaign has been live for over a year and the various online guides, forum posts, and video tutorials have racked up tens of thousands of combined views.
Call of Duty: Warzone cheats
While cybercriminal activity should never be tolerated, in any context, fewer people are at risk of losing sleep over this particular malware campaign. While cheating is commonplace in many online games, it's even more felt in a game like Warzone, where the player only has one life (but with the possibility of replay through the Gulag) before returning. to the lobby. . In an advisory published in early February, Call of Duty staff announced the banning of 60.000 accounts caught with cheatware, bringing the total number of "permanent" ones to 300.000. “We also continue our efforts to identify and deal with source cheat providers, who have distributed unauthorized third-party software to modify or hack. We are committed to providing a fair and fun experience for all players,” Activision said at the time. In addition to causing frustration among legitimate gamers, the popularity of cheat software also presents a clear opportunity for cybercriminals. For many cheats to work as expected, they must have extended access permissions, and setup guides often encourage users to disable antivirus services and other security measures. This combination of qualities makes video game cheats the ideal vehicle for introducing malware. “Ultimately, the dependencies for a 'genuine' hack to work are the same ones that most malicious tools need to run successfully,” the researchers responsible for the discovery explained. "While this method is quite simplistic, it is ultimately a social engineering technique that exploits your target's willingness to voluntarily lower their security protections and ignore warnings about running potentially malicious software." To protect against this type of attack, players are advised to download files only from trusted sources, protect their devices with a top-notch antivirus service, and alternatively not to cheat in Call of Duty.- Here's our list of the best password managers right now.