The global gaming community has recently faced an alarming surge in cyberattacks, according to Kaspersky. With over three billion mobile gamers worldwide, nearly 40% of the population, mobile gaming has become a prime target for cybercriminals. Between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023, Kaspersky documented a total of 436,786 attempts to infect mobile devices, affecting 84,539 users.
During this period, Kaspersky discovered the growing vulnerability of the gaming user base, with cybercriminals targeting personal data through a range of attacks, including web vulnerabilities, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, cryptocurrency mining, and complex Trojan or phishing campaigns.
Kaspersky’s solutions detected 4,076,530 attempts to download 30,684 unique files masked as popular games, mods, cheats, and other game-related software between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023, impacting 192,456 users worldwide. While these files are often labeled as not-a-virus:Downloader (89.70%), they are capable of downloading various other programs, including malicious ones, onto the user’s device. Adware (5.25%) and Trojans (2.39%) also posed significant threats to desktop gamers.
Minecraft was the primary target among cybercriminals, triggering 70.29% of all alerts, impacting 130,619 players worldwide. Roblox was the second most targeted game title, contributing to 20.37% of all alerts affecting 30,367 users. Other prominent games subjected to cyber threats included Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (4.78%), PUBG (2.85%), Hogwarts Legacy (0.60%), DOTA 2 (0.45%), and League of Legends (0.31%).
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Kaspersky recommends downloading games only from official stores like Steam, Apple App Store, Google Play, or Amazon Appstore. Additionally, it advises caution with unfamiliar gamers, avoiding opening links or files from unknown sources, and refraining from downloading pirated software. A robust security solution like Kaspersky Total Security is recommended for protection from cyber threats while gaming.
The surge in cyberattacks in the gaming community underscores the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity awareness, especially as cybercriminals seek opportunities to exploit gaming accounts and access personal and financial data.
