Gaming cyberattacks have skyrocketed in recent months as criminals seek to take advantage of the increased number of people turning to video games for entertainment while locked down. According to security firm Kaspersky, the number of attempts to direct users to malicious gaming-themed websites increased 54% in April from pre-block rates. The number of redirects to phishing pages containing mention of the popular gaming platform Steam has also increased by 40%. The most common video games used to direct players into dangerous areas include Minecraft, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, and The Witcher 3, all of which are hugely popular in their own right.
Gambling scams
In most of the video game attacks observed by Kaspersky, cybercriminals have lured victims by promising free downloads, updates, extensions, or cheats. Users who have accessed fake websites have been infected with a variety of different malware, from password stealers and ransomware to cryptocurrency miners. “Many of these video game attacks are not particularly sophisticated; There is a large user component to its success. The last few months have shown that users are very likely to fall victim to phishing attacks or click on malicious links when it comes to games," said Maria Namestnikova, a security expert at Kaspersky. However, the threat posed by the attacks Gaming-related issues are also exacerbated by the volume of users currently gaming on the same device they use for remote work.In some cases, remote work devices are also shared among different family members, including children. "Now that many gamers have started using the same machines they use to access corporate gaming networks, their caution should be doubled: risky actions not only make personal data or money vulnerable, but corporate resources as well. "added Kaspersky's Yury Namestnikov. "When working from home, if possible, try to avoid mixing your personal computer with the one you use to access the corporate network." To mitigate in-game threats, Kaspersky advises players to adhere to the following rules:- Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) if possible
- Beware of cheats and pirated copies of video games
- Use a security solution capable of blocking malicious downloads and redirects