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.
