Flight Sim Company Embeds Malware to Steal Pirates’ Passwords

Minimalist · Feb 19, 2018

Flight sim company FlightSimLabs has found itself in trouble after installing malware onto users' machines as an anti-piracy measure. Code embedded in its A320-X module contained a mechanism for detecting 'pirate' serial numbers distributed on The Pirate Bay, which then triggered a process through which the company stole usernames and passwords from users' web browsers.
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https://torrentfreak.com/flight-sim-company-embeds-malware-to-steal-pirates-passwords-180219/

guest · Jun 6, 2018

FlightSimLabs Installs More Questionable Stuff On Users' Machines, Then Threatens Reddit
June 6, 2018
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/2...ff-users-machines-then-threatens-reddit.shtml

[...] essentially FSL attempted to deliver DRM again onto users' machines, but named the files to mimic a common Windows background file that users see all the time. It's actually quite common for a user opening Task Manager to see several instances of cmdhost.exe running at once. In other words, it's the kind of thing nearly everyone would scroll past, assuming its legit.

“It’s a malware tactic used to deceive users into thinking the executable is a part of the OS, thus being trusted and not deleted. Really dodgy tactic, don’t trust it and don’t trust them,” opined another.
As several people on Reddit have pointed out, this sort of misleading naming of software services is a hallmark of malware.

The company put out a statement explaining that the file is a part of its product activation software and that the file had been vetted by every major antivirus maker out there. Both appear to be true, which doesn't even begin to explain why FSL, having had its reputation so thoroughly tarnished recently, thought pulling this name convention trick with its DRM was a good idea.

[...] if not cleaned up, the company would have "no choice" but to send in the lawyers. [...] The mods again refused, while also accusing FSL of trying to game Reddit's voting system to push down critical posts.
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