Pirated Software is All Fun and Games Until Your Computer becomes infected with Malware

mood · Feb 2, 2020

Pirated Software is All Fun and Games Until Your Data’s Stolen
February 2, 2020
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...s-all-fun-and-games-until-your-data-s-stolen/

It may be tempting to try to download the latest games or applications for free, but doing so will ultimately land you in a hotbed of trouble as your computer becomes infected with adware, ransomware, and password-stealing Trojans.

In the past, though, most of the unwanted programs that were installed were adware or browser extensions, and though definitely a nuisance, for the most part, they were not stealing your files or installing ransomware on your computer.
This has changed as software installer monetization companies have started to increasingly team up with ransomware and password-stealing Trojan developers to distribute their malware.
Passwords stolen through software cracks
Security researcher Benkøw has recently noticed that monetized installers pretending to be software cracks and key generators are now commonly installing password-stealing Trojans or remote access Trojans (RATs) when they are executed.
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Distributed via torrent sites, YouTube, and fake crack sites
To distribute these adware bundles, attackers will upload them to torrent sites, create fake YouTube videos with links to alleged license key generators, or create sites designed to just promote adware bundles disguised as software cracks.

While it may be tempting to download pirated software so that you do not have to pay for it, the risks far outweigh the reward.
BleepingComputer gets emails, Twitter DMs, and Facebook messages every day from people who were infected by the STOP ransomware after pirating software.
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It is just not worth it.
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mood · Apr 17, 2020

Valorant beta scam infects your PC with malware
A supposed key generator for the upcoming Valorant game installs malware instead
April 16, 2020
https://www.tomsguide.com/news/valorant-beta-keygen-malware

Another hot new game means another predictable malware scam. The hot new game is Valorant, an upcoming multiplayer shooter from League of Legends developer Riot Games.

This malware scam promises beta keys to prospective players, but installs a keylogger instead. The scam is easy to avoid, and easy to address — but it’s also easy to fall for, particularly if you’re caught up in the Valorant hype.
This information comes from Albert Zsigovits, a threat researcher for U.K.-based security firm Sophos.

Fake #RiotGames #Valorant game-key generators being distributed.It’s actually a stealer, stub grabs a 2nd stage keylogger from pastebin. @malwrhunterteam @JayTHL @PlayVALORANT pic.twitter.com/nXKzRc8W7O April 15, 2020
If you try to use the fake Valorant keygen, it will download a keylogger from Pastebin directly to your computer, then channel anything you type — including your usernames and passwords — back to a cybercriminal somewhere.
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Unfortunately, getting rid of the keylogger will have to be done after the fact. According to VirusTotal, only Kaspersky software seems to recognize the keylogger download page on Pastebin as malicious at present.
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mood · Dec 18, 2020

Ransomware masquerades as mobile version of Cyberpunk 2077
December 17, 2020
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...querades-as-mobile-version-of-cyberpunk-2077/

A threat actor is distributing fake Windows and Android installers for the Cyberpunk 2077 game that is installing a ransomware calling itself CoderWare.
To trick users into installing malware, threat actors commonly distribute them as gamer installers, cheats, and cracks for copyrighted software.

This week, Kaspersky malware analyst Tatyana Shishkova discovered an Android ransomware masquerading as a mobile version of the Cyberpunk 2077 game. The game was being distributed from a fake website impersonating the legitimate Google Play Store.
Windows version released in November
This ransomware is the same as one discovered by MalwareHunterTeam in November that was disguised as a Windows Cyberpunk 2077 installer. Like the Android version, this ransomware calls itself CoderWare but is a variant of the BlackKingdom ransomware.
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As you can see, when attempting to install copyrighted software for free, you face huge risks of malware infections. This risk is even more significant when you try to install Android apps from third-party app stores.
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Pirated Software is All Fun and Games Until Your Computer becomes infected with Malware

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Pirated Software is All Fun and Games Until Your Computer becomes infected with Malware

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