Game developers and players are often plagued by cheating. Some online players are always looking for means of having an upper-hand in matches. The desire to win pushes some individuals to look for methods of cheating the game by getting more collectibles and upgrades within the game.

 

If you are among individuals who love searching for cheat codes on the internet, you should be wary of malware distributed as a cheating software. Sophos, a digital security firm, shocked gamers when it announced a recent cheat software distributed for Apex Legends, Fortnite, and CSGO was malware. The company specializes in downloading and assessing major software distributed on online platforms.

 

Components of the Malware

 

The package distributed as cheating software is known as Baldr. Comparing the benefits and disadvantages associated with the use of the software should discourage anyone from trying it to gain an unfair advantage over other online players.

 

Identity Theft

 

Baldr is designed for identity theft since it downloads personal information and sends it to the developers immediately when you launch the software on your computer. Particularly, the software accesses your credit card information and game passwords. Sophos believes that the developers of Baldr wanted to gain access to game purchases to sell them on the dark web. Recent modifications of the virus allow it to access highly personal information such as your social media logins, crypto wallet, and other information stored on your PC.

 

Pirated Games

 

The software also contains pirated games that are not authorized by the developing companies. Running the software in your computer supports piracy since you modify your authentic game by including pirated patches. Piracy is illegal in the United States, and you should not try it out if you don’t want to be on the wrong side of the law. 

 

Cryptojacking

 

Cryptojacking is an emerging trend where hackers send a malware that secretly hides in your computer while mining for currency. Cryptocurrency mining takes a lot of time hence, hackers have developed methods of using other peoples' phones and laptops to mine for coins. Baldr contains cryptocurrency installers that hide in your computer immediately run the software. The installers significantly reduce the lifespan of your computer while increasing the cost of your electricity bill.

 

Method of Distribution

 

The malware is distributed through online platforms. Notably, YouTube has generated a lot of traffic towards the site where the software is downloaded. Telegram chats and Discord also attracted unsuspecting players to download the software. Moreover, gaming channels increased the number of individuals who clicked on the link.

 

Avoiding the Malware

 

You can avoid having the malware on your computer by not cheating when playing. Hackers target young players that wish to cheat to win against their friends. The chances of downloading malicious software on your laptop significantly reduce when you avoid clicking on links posted on the internet. Try to be honest and transparent when playing your games. Cautious behavior increases the lifespan of your machine and protects your personal information.