Gamers warned their passwords could be STOLEN after installing brand new title – simple mistake could cost you thousands
Malware has reportedly been uploaded to a
Advertisement
2
An urgent warning has gone out to gamers after Malware was uploaded to a Steam game
Credit: Supplied
2
The malware allows hackers to access your device at any time
Credit: Getty
A
The sinister scammer - also known as Larva-208 - allegedly launched his plot on July 22 when he uploaded the HijackLoader malware (CVKRUTNP.exe) onto the game.
According to
The software establishes 'persistence' - meaning it gives a hacker unlimited access - on your device.
Advertisement
Read More on Gaming
Then, it downloads the Vidar infostealer (v9d9.exe) while receiving a command-and-control address from a Telegram channel.
A second piece of
With all of that data and access to your computer, the hacker is then able to rob users of their hard-earned cash.
A report shared with BleepingComputer revealed that the scheme relies on players trusting online platforms, instead of using 'traditional deception techniques'.
Advertisement
Most read in Tech
Exclusive
Exclusive
Breaking
It is unknown how EncryptHub allegedly managed to upload the files onto the game and Chemia's developer has not commented on the issue.
The game remains on Steam and it is unclear if the latest version is safe to download.
Watch trailer for RoboCop-Rogue City game that's FREE to claim on PlayStation
The Sun has contacted
EncryptHub was behind a cyberattack campaign last year which affected 600 companies worldwide.
Advertisement
The news comes after the beloved supermarket M&S recovers from a major cyberattack this year.
Marks and Spencer was forced to shut down their online website while it grappled with the crisis, while £700 million was wiped off its stock market value.
Eventually, the retailer was able to return to normal after being unable to make deliveries for some time.
After the attack, the company offered users of its Sparks loyalty scheme the chance to choose between two of M&S' best selling products.
Advertisement
These included:
Percy Pigs or a Swiss Truffle Assortment Box
Bouquet of Flowers or bottle of Prosecco
A punnet of Grapes or a packet of Outrageously Chocolatey Round Biscuits.
Sharry Cramond, director of loyalty, fashion, home & beauty marketing and masterbrand, said: 'Over the last three months, our colleagues have demonstrated real commitment and teamwork. At the same time, our customers have shown us fantastic support and loyalty.
"These extra Sparks rewards are a small gesture to say thank you.'
How to spot a dodgy app
Detecting a malicious app before you hit the 'Download' button is easy when you know the signs.
Follow this eight-point checklist when you're downloading an app you're unsure about:
Check the reviews
- be wary of both complaints and uniformly positive reviews by fake accounts.
Look out for grammar mistakes
- legitimate app developers won't have typos or errors in their app descriptions.
Check the number of downloads
- avoid apps with only several thousand downloads, as it could be fake.
Research the developer
- do they have a good reputation? Or, are totally fake?
Check the release date
- a recent release date paired with a high number of downloads is usually bad news.
Review the permission agreement
- this agreement gives permission for the app to take bits of your data, and fake apps often ask for additional data that is not necessary.
Check the update frequency
- an app that is updated too frequently is usually indicative of security vulnerabilities.
Check the icon
- look closely, and don't be deceived by distorted, lower-quality versions the icons from legitimate apps.
All of this information will available in both Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
Sixteen dead and 90 injured as Russian missiles hit Ukraine prison
Four powerful Russian glide bombs hit a prison in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, authorities said. They killed at least 16 inmates and wounded more than 90 others, Ukraine's justice ministry said. In the Dnipro region of central Ukraine, authorities said Russian missiles partially destroyed a three-storey building and damaged nearby medical facilities, including a maternity hospital and a city hospital ward. At least three people were killed, including a 23-year-old pregnant woman, and two other people were killed elsewhere in the region, regional authorities said. These were conscious, deliberate strikes – not accidental Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that overnight Russian strikes across the country hit 73 cities, towns and villages. 'These were conscious, deliberate strikes – not accidental,' Mr Zelensky said on Telegram. Mr Trump said on Monday he is giving Russian president Vladimir Putin 10 to 12 days to stop the killing in Ukraine after three years of war, moving up a 50-day deadline he had given the Russian leader two weeks ago. The move meant Mr Trump wants peace efforts to make progress by August 7-9. He has repeatedly rebuked Putin for talking about ending the war but continuing to bombard Ukrainian civilians. But the Kremlin hasn't changed its tactics. I'm disappointed in President Putin 'I'm disappointed in President Putin,' Mr Trump said during a visit to Scotland. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said yesterday that Russia is determined to achieve its goals in Ukraine, though he said Moscow has 'taken note' of Mr Trump's announcement and is committed to seeking a peaceful solution. Mr Zelensky welcomed Mr Trump's shortening of the deadline. 'Everyone needs peace – Ukraine, Europe, the United States and responsible leaders across the globe,' Mr Zelensky wrote in a post on Telegram. 'Everyone except Russia.' The Kremlin pushed back, with a top Putin lieutenant warning Mr Trump against 'playing the ultimatum game with Russia'. 'Russia isn't Israel or even Iran,' former president Dmitry Medvedev, who is deputy head of the country's security council, wrote on social platform X. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war 'Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country,' Mr Medvedev said. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbour, the Kremlin has warned Kyiv's Western backers that their involvement could end up broadening the war to Nato countries. 'Kremlin officials continue to frame Russia as in direct geopolitical confrontation with the West in order to generate domestic support for the war in Ukraine and future Russian aggression against Nato,' the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think-tank, said late on Monday. The Ukrainian air force said Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles along with 37 Shahed-type strike drones and decoys at Ukraine overnight. It said 32 Shahed drones were intercepted or neutralised by Ukrainian air defences. The Russian attack close to midnight on Monday hit the Bilenkivska Correctional Facility with glide bombs, according to the State Criminal Executive Service of Ukraine. Glide bombs, which are Soviet-era bombs retrofitted with retractable fins and guidance systems, have been laying waste to cities in eastern Ukraine, where the Russian army is trying to pierce Ukrainian defences. The bombs carry up to 3,000kg of explosives. At least 42 inmates were taken to hospital with serious injuries, while another 40 people, including one staff member, sustained various injuries. The strike destroyed the prison's dining hall, damaged administrative and quarantine buildings, but the perimeter fence held and no escapes were reported, authorities said. Ukrainian officials condemned the attack, saying that targeting civilian infrastructure, such as prisons, is a war crime under international conventions. The assault occurred exactly three years after an explosion killed more than 50 people at the Olenivka detention facility in the Russia-occupied Donetsk region. Russian forces also struck a grocery store in a village in the northeastern Kharkiv region, police said, killing five and wounding three civilians. Alongside the barrages, Russia has also kept up its grinding war of attrition, which has slowly churned across the eastern side of Ukraine at a heavy cost in troop losses and military hardware.
The Journal
5 days ago
- The Journal
Four people killed after gunman opened fire in New York skyscraper
FOUR PEOPLE INCLUDING a police officer were killed yesterday after a gunman walked into a skyscraper in central Manhattan and opened fire in broad daylight, officials said. A fifth victim was also in critical condition after being shot, while the gunman apparently took his own life, Mayor Eric Adams told a late-night briefing at a hospital near the scene of the shooting. The gunman was caught on camera exiting a black BMW carrying an M-4 rifle, then entering the building, immediately opening fire on a police officer before 'spraying the lobby' with bullets, police commissioner Jessica Tisch told the press conference. He then took an elevator to the 33rd floor, of Rudin Management which owns the building, where the man continued his spree before apparently shooting himself. He was later discovered by officers next to his weapon. The office tower block at 345 Park Avenue is also home to hedge fund giant Blackstone, auditor KPMG and the National Football League. Tisch told the briefing that the suspect was believed to have acted alone but inquiries were ongoing, with the FBI assisting in the investigation. She identified the shooter as Shane Tamura of Las Vegas and said a revolver, ammunition and magazines were found in his vehicle along with medication bearing his name. The man had a history of mental health issues according to Las Vegas law enforcement — but did appear to possess a valid firearms permit for Nevada, Tisch said. He drove cross-country from the southwestern state in recent days and arrived in New York on Monday, she said. Advertisement The incident began around 6:00pm local time when reports of gunfire prompted hundreds of police to swarm a busy office district on the storied Park Avenue, an area popular with tourists and visiting businesspeople. A worker from a nearby office building wept as she left the area after a local lockdown was lifted, while another described a gunman going floor to floor as staff prepared to leave for the day. Adams said the fallen police officer, an immigrant from Bangladesh who was 36-years-old, was among the dead. Two other males and a female died, and another man remained in a critical condition, officials said without giving any preliminary motive for the shootings. Mass shootings are common in the United States, where a constitutional right to bear arms outweighs demands for stricter rules. There have been 254 mass shootings in the United States this year including yesterday's incident in New York, according to the Gun Violence Archive – which defines a mass shooting as four or more people shot. Police officers deployed a drone near Park Avenue at the height of the evening rush-hour as dozens of officers swarmed the area, some carrying long guns and others wearing ballistic vests. The area is home to several five-star business hotels, as well as a number of corporate headquarters. The United Nations headquarters is nearby. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she has been briefed on the shooting. The frontrunner in the race for mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on X that he was 'heartbroken to learn of the horrific shooting in midtown and I am holding the victims, their families, and the NYPD officer… in my thoughts.'
The Irish Sun
27-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Gamers warned their passwords could be STOLEN after installing brand new title – simple mistake could cost you thousands
AN URGENT warning has gone out to gamers after a alleged scam to rob players of thousands of pounds was uncovered. Malware has reportedly been uploaded to a Advertisement 2 An urgent warning has gone out to gamers after Malware was uploaded to a Steam game Credit: Supplied 2 The malware allows hackers to access your device at any time Credit: Getty A The sinister scammer - also known as Larva-208 - allegedly launched his plot on July 22 when he uploaded the HijackLoader malware ( onto the game. According to The software establishes 'persistence' - meaning it gives a hacker unlimited access - on your device. Advertisement Read More on Gaming Then, it downloads the Vidar infostealer ( while receiving a command-and-control address from a Telegram channel. A second piece of With all of that data and access to your computer, the hacker is then able to rob users of their hard-earned cash. A report shared with BleepingComputer revealed that the scheme relies on players trusting online platforms, instead of using 'traditional deception techniques'. Advertisement Most read in Tech Exclusive Exclusive Breaking It is unknown how EncryptHub allegedly managed to upload the files onto the game and Chemia's developer has not commented on the issue. The game remains on Steam and it is unclear if the latest version is safe to download. Watch trailer for RoboCop-Rogue City game that's FREE to claim on PlayStation The Sun has contacted EncryptHub was behind a cyberattack campaign last year which affected 600 companies worldwide. Advertisement The news comes after the beloved supermarket M&S recovers from a major cyberattack this year. Marks and Spencer was forced to shut down their online website while it grappled with the crisis, while £700 million was wiped off its stock market value. Eventually, the retailer was able to return to normal after being unable to make deliveries for some time. After the attack, the company offered users of its Sparks loyalty scheme the chance to choose between two of M&S' best selling products. Advertisement These included: Percy Pigs or a Swiss Truffle Assortment Box Bouquet of Flowers or bottle of Prosecco A punnet of Grapes or a packet of Outrageously Chocolatey Round Biscuits. Sharry Cramond, director of loyalty, fashion, home & beauty marketing and masterbrand, said: 'Over the last three months, our colleagues have demonstrated real commitment and teamwork. At the same time, our customers have shown us fantastic support and loyalty. "These extra Sparks rewards are a small gesture to say thank you.' How to spot a dodgy app Detecting a malicious app before you hit the 'Download' button is easy when you know the signs. Follow this eight-point checklist when you're downloading an app you're unsure about: Check the reviews - be wary of both complaints and uniformly positive reviews by fake accounts. Look out for grammar mistakes - legitimate app developers won't have typos or errors in their app descriptions. Check the number of downloads - avoid apps with only several thousand downloads, as it could be fake. Research the developer - do they have a good reputation? Or, are totally fake? Check the release date - a recent release date paired with a high number of downloads is usually bad news. Review the permission agreement - this agreement gives permission for the app to take bits of your data, and fake apps often ask for additional data that is not necessary. Check the update frequency - an app that is updated too frequently is usually indicative of security vulnerabilities. Check the icon - look closely, and don't be deceived by distorted, lower-quality versions the icons from legitimate apps. All of this information will available in both Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store.
