Latest news with #Acronis
The National
5 days ago
- The National
Gamers in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey most affected by malware campaign
Gamers in the Middle East have been heavily hit by a malware campaign that promotes fake beta versions of video games, cyber security experts have warned. Consumers in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey have been the most impacted by the campaign, according to cyber protection company Acronis. Its threat research group said malware is spreading through the use of Discord, a video, audio and texting platform popular with gamers around the world. The campaign pretends to promote beta versions of games titled Baruda Quest, Warstorm Fire and Dire Talon, but they are actually software that steals personal information and payment, login and crypto wallet data. 'This underscores the urgent need for awareness among regional gamers who are particularly active on platforms like Discord, where much of the malicious content is distributed,' Acronis said in a statement. Jozsef Gegeny, a senior researcher at the cyber security company, said that unlike most malware campaigns, this one also targets people considered to have decent technical knowledge. While corporations and organisations have ramped up cyber security, not enough of that messaging is reaching recreational technology users, he said. 'That's why it's important for the cybersecurity community to shine a light on threats that target individuals and not just corporations,' he said. 'This campaign shows that even well-informed users can be tricked.' The Middle East is particularly vulnerable to attacks due to the recent and rapid increase in video game popularity, making it one of the fastest-growing gaming markets. In 2020, the Middle East gaming industry was valued at approximately $4.8 billion, according to market research firm Newzoo. Five years later, Acronis said, that figure has climbed to more than $7 billion. In February, Power League Gaming chief executive Matthew Pickering said the region's high percentage of young people is helping the industry flourish, but it is also winning over the older demographic as a way to build confidence and sharpen analytical skills. 'Esports is now a solid career path,' he said. It is not yet clear who is responsible for spreading malware targeting the gaming community, but Acronis said it was first detected in the US and Brazil. The company added that the campaign is taking advantage of gamers' appetite to stay ahead of the curve. 'This campaign exploits the enthusiasm of the gaming community, particularly those eager to access unreleased or early-access content,' it said.
TECHx
7 days ago
- TECHx
Acronis Reveals Malware Targeting Middle East Gamers
Home » Emerging technologies » Gaming » Acronis Reveals Malware Targeting Middle East Gamers Acronis has revealed details of a sophisticated malware campaign targeting consumers, particularly gamers, across the Middle East. The Acronis Threat Research Unit (TRU) reported that the attackers are exploiting the rising popularity of online gaming in the region, which is valued at over US$7 billion and continues to grow rapidly. The malware campaign focuses on users aged 18–35 and spreads through platforms like Discord. Victims are lured with fake beta versions of indie games such as Baruda Quest , Warstorm Fire , and Dire Talon . Instead of actual games, users unknowingly download infostealer malware like Leet Stealer, RMC Stealer, and Sniffer Stealer. According to Acronis researchers, the malware steals sensitive data including login credentials, payment information, and crypto wallets. This can lead to account takeovers, financial loss, and extortion. The campaign is notable for targeting individuals rather than corporate networks. Affected countries include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Türkiye Malware is often spread through fake game promotions on Discord and YouTube Jozsef Gegeny, Senior Researcher at Acronis TRU, stated that the team uncovered the threat by analyzing suspicious files and websites disguised as legitimate game content. Many of these files were not detected by major antivirus tools. The campaign was first detected in Brazil and the United States but has now expanded globally. The Middle East has become a hotspot due to its young, digitally active gaming population. Attackers use fake branding, promotional sites, and even dedicated YouTube channels to distribute the malware. Some installers display fake errors to hide their real intent. Acronis urges gamers to remain vigilant and download games only from official or verified developer websites. They also recommend enabling multi-factor authentication for added security. Gegeny added that even tech-savvy users can fall victim to such threats, especially when malware evades mainstream security tools.
Zawya
7 days ago
- Zawya
Acronis uncovers sophisticated malware campaign targeting gamers; Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Türkiye among most impacted
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The Acronis Threat Research Unit (TRU) has uncovered details of a sophisticated, consumer-focused malware campaign exploiting the global popularity of online gaming—an industry valued at over US$7 billion in the Middle East alone and projected to grow rapidly as young, digitally native audiences fuel demand. The researchers identified that among the most impacted countries globally are three Middle East nations — Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Türkiye. This underscores the urgent need for awareness among regional gamers who are particularly active on platforms like Discord, where much of the malicious content is distributed. The campaign targets consumers, particularly gamers aged 18–35. Victims are lured with what appear to be beta versions of indie games such as Baruda Quest, Warstorm Fire, and Dire Talon, but instead what ends up being downloaded is infostealer malware like Leet Stealer, RMC Stealer, and Sniffer Stealer. This malicious software steals sensitive information including login credentials, payment details, and crypto wallets and can result in account takeovers, financial loss, and extortion. Unlike most malware that focuses on corporate networks, this campaign exploits the enthusiasm of the gaming community, particularly those eager to access unreleased or early-access content. 'This campaign is notable for its sophistication and its focus on what could be considered a highly tech-savvy demograhic,' said Jozsef Gegeny, Senior Researcher at Acronis TRU. 'Our team uncovered the threat by analysing a wave of suspicious files and websites masquerading as legitimate game content, which were spreading largely undetected by major antivirus tools. While enterprises are often protected by managed service providers and robust defences, consumers remain highly exposed to such risks. That's why it's important for the cybersecurity community to shine a light on threats that target individuals and not just corporations.' The attackers use stolen branding, fake promotional websites, and even dedicated YouTube channels to make the games appear authentic. Popular platforms like Discord are used to share links to fake installers, taking advantage of the trust gamers place in these communities. Acronis found malware disguised as downloaders which displayed convincing errors during installation to mask their true intent. The campaign, first observed spreading in Brazil and the United States, has now been seen globally, with the Middle East emerging as a key hotspot given its young and highly engaged gaming population. 'We strongly urge gamers to remain vigilant, only download games and beta content from official stores or verified developer websites, and enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible,' added Gegeny. 'This campaign shows that even well-informed users can be tricked, especially when malware evades detection by mainstream antivirus tools. Extra caution and awareness are the best defences against such complex and convincing threats.' About Acronis Acronis is a global cyber protection company that provides natively integrated cybersecurity, data protection, and endpoint management for managed service providers (MSPs), small and medium businesses (SMBs), and enterprise IT departments. Acronis solutions are highly efficient and designed to identify, prevent, detect, respond, remediate, and recover from modern cyberthreats with minimal downtime, ensuring data integrity and business continuity. Acronis offers the most comprehensive security solution on the market for MSPs with its unique ability to meet the needs of diverse and distributed IT environments. A Swiss company founded in Singapore in 2003, Acronis has 15 offices worldwide and employees in 50+ countries. Acronis Cyber Protect is available in 26 languages in 150 countries and is used by over 21,000 service providers to protect over 750,000 businesses.
Al Bawaba
09-07-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Kingston adds New Form Factor to NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
Kingston Digital Europe Co LLP, the flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced it has added a new form factor, to join the previous 2280 model, NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 2230 SSD for users looking for a high-speed, low power NVMe storage upgrade for compatible laptops and handheld gaming Kingston NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe 2230 SSD is a compact single-sided M.2 2230 (22x30mm) design that provides storage expansion up to 2TB for systems with limited space. Powered by a Gen 4x4 NVMe controller NV3 2230 delivers read/write speeds of up to 6,000/5,000MB/s, creating a more responsive system able to handle a wide range of workloads.'We are happy to expand our offerings with the NV3 2230 SSD allowing users to upgrade not just their devices but their experience, whether for work or play,' said Tony Hollingsbee, SSD business manager, Kingston EMEA. 'NV3 2230 delivers speed and reliability making it ideal for creators and gamers ready to see improved performance.'Available in capacities from 500GB – 2TB, NV3 2230 provides users storage for an array of applications, files, games and more. NV3 also includes 1-year free Acronis® True Image for Kingston software, alongside the Kingston SSD Manager application, enabling users to monitor drive health and disk usage, update drive firmware, and securely erase more information visit PCIe 4.0 NVMe 2230 SSD Features and Specifications:• Form factor: M.2 2230 • Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe • Capacities: 500GB, 1TB, 2TB• Sequential read/write:o 500GB – 5,000/3,000MB/so 1TB – 6,000/4,000MB/so 2TB – 6,000/5,000MB/s• NAND: 3D• Endurance (total bytes written):o 500GB – 160TBo 1TB – 320TBo 2TB – 640TB• Storage temperature: -40°C~85°C• Operating temperature: 0°C~70°C• Dimensions: 22mm x 30mm x 2.3mm• Weight: o 500GB – 2.6go 1TB - 2TB – 2.8g• Vibration non-operating: 20G (20-1000Hz)• MTBF: 2,000,000 hours • Warranty/support: Limited 5-year warranty with free technical support
Hamilton Spectator
07-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Acronis and M3 Technology Consultants #TeamUp with the Washington Nationals
WASHINGTON, July 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acronis , a global leader in cybersecurity and data protection , is happy to announce its latest #TeamUp partnership with the Washington Nationals Baseball Club. In collaboration with M3 Technology Consultants , a leading Managed Service Provider (MSP) delivering top-notch IT services, the Nationals will strengthen their digital infrastructure using Acronis' natively integrated cyber protection solutions. As the proud #CyberFit Partner of the Washington Nationals, #M3TC is enhancing its partnership with the team to bolster the Nationals' cybersecurity posture by deploying Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. This includes VM Cloud Backup for seamless, cloud-based protection of virtual machines, along with Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) to ensure fast and reliable data and system recovery. Acronis continues to lead the charge in strengthening cyber defenses across professional sports, setting a new standard for proactive protection against increasingly complex cyber threats. With M3 Technology Consultants managing the team's IT infrastructure, Acronis' security solutions are ready to step up to the plate to protect the team against complex cybersecurity threats. 'Our #TeamUp program was created to collaborate with professional athletic organizations to safeguard not only their team data but also the valuable information of their fans,' said Pat Hurley, RVP Americas at Acronis. 'It's about establishing a solid foundation for a secure, reliable digital environment, both on the field and in the digital world. Together with #M3TC, this partnership ensures the Nationals have the data protection and cyber resilience they need to stay ahead of threats and maintain seamless business continuity.' 'This expanded partnership will help us continue to be forward-thinking in our approach to cybersecurity and data,' said Matt Lemire, Nationals Vice President, Corporate Partnerships. 'Acronis' technology and the management of M3 Technology Consultants will play an important role in safeguarding our data and systems.' 'Partnering with the Washington Nationals is an exciting opportunity to enhance the team's security strategy and deliver top-tier cybersecurity and data protection solutions from Acronis,' said Joseph Migliozzi, President at M3 Technology Consultants. 'By implementing Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, we're equipping the Nationals with advanced solutions to safeguard their digital assets and ensure they're always in the best position to recover their data quickly and efficiently in case of any unexpected curveballs.' Service providers are invited to join the Acronis #TeamUp Program to deliver Acronis Cyber Protection solutions to world-class and global professional sports teams. To learn more about Acronis' #TeamUp Program, please visit . About M3 Technology Consultants M3 Technology Consultants provides more than just business IT services. Our team of experts offer personalized IT strategies for our clients that allow them to continue running their businesses without technology issues getting in the way. We recognize that business leaders do not have time to guess what IT support their businesses may or may not need. With 22 years of experience, M3TC has developed one simple streamlined solution, our True Blue inclusive service package. All the support your business needs, without the back and forth, nickel and diming. One package is designed to provide proactive system support, so you can run your business and enjoy peace of mind. Founded in 2003, M3 Technology Consultants is headquartered in Fairfax, VA. All services are US based, with our team of Information Technology Professionals supporting clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Learn more at . About Acronis: Acronis is a global cyber protection company that provides natively integrated cybersecurity , data protection, and endpoint management for managed service providers (MSPs), small and medium businesses (SMBs), and enterprise IT departments. Acronis solutions are highly efficient and designed to identify, prevent, detect, respond, remediate, and recover from modern cyberthreats with minimal downtime, ensuring data integrity and business continuity. Acronis offers the most comprehensive security solution on the market for MSPs with its unique ability to meet the needs of diverse and distributed IT environments. A Swiss company founded in Singapore in 2003, Acronis has 15 offices worldwide and employees in 50+ countries. Acronis Cyber Protect is available in 26 languages in 150 countries and is used by over 21,000 service providers to protect over 750,000 businesses. Learn more at . Acronis Press Contact: Julia Carfagno Senior Global Communication Manager A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
