Hackers within the realm of video games are nothing new. However, their activities have mostly revolved around cheating against fellow players. Recently, these threat actors have escalated their actions by introducing malware into Call of Duty, targeting unsuspecting players.
The affected game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, was released by Activision back in 2009. Surprisingly, even after more than a decade, there are still a dedicated few who actively engage in this online gaming environment.
A vigilant user on Steam discovered the malware and took the initiative to warn other players about the hackers’ activities, which were being carried out through compromised game lobbies. He advised players to run antivirus scans to ensure they weren’t infected.
Upon analysis, the virus was identified as a malware online repository known as VirusTotal. Another player, investigating the issue, suggested that the malware might be a worm, based on the strings of code found within, as reported by Tech Crunch.
Insiders from the gaming industry have confirmed these suspicions. Though they chose to remain anonymous due to restrictions preventing them from speaking publicly or to the press, they verified that the malware was indeed a worm based on its code.
Activision has taken steps to address the situation, although they haven’t explicitly disclosed the worm’s presence in online lobbies. Neil Wood, the spokesperson for the gaming giant, simply stated that the game had been taken offline on Steam for investigation.
According to reports, the worm has the capability to automatically spread to other players through online lobbies, possibly exploiting vulnerabilities within the game’s code. However, the motives of the threat actors behind this attack remain unclear.
At present, Activision is focused on resolving the issue. Players who participated in an online lobby on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 around June 26th are advised to promptly run an antivirus scan on their PCs to safeguard against potential malware infiltration.
This type of hacking method is relatively uncommon, especially considering the numerous safeguards implemented in contemporary video games. Typically, players encounter malware when downloading from third-party sources, such as game installers masquerading as cracked versions to deceive users.
Even cheats and mods for games can harbor malware, leading to various malicious outcomes, including adware, spyware, trojans, and more, as identified by Kaspersky.
Thankfully, there are ways to prevent falling victim to such attacks. Firstly, installing a reliable antivirus solution that can detect most, if not all, security threats is crucial. Secondly, avoiding the download of pirated files is essential, as they are more likely to contain harmful malware.