Fortnite, an online game developed and released in 2017 by Epic Games is in news for all wrong reasons. Cybersecurity researchers from Cloud-based Internet Security Company named ‘Cyren’ have discovered that ransomware in the disguise of ‘Aimbot’ gaming hack is being circulated on the hacker which turns into ransomware when downloaded.
Syrk is the name given to the ransomware which is being advertised to aim in a precise way and help discover other players in the game. But when downloaded the game encrypts data on the infected device until a ransom is paid. What’s’ more concern about this cyber threat is that the said malware is having the potential to delete batches of files for every 2 hrs.
According to an update by researchers from Cyren, Syrk Ransomware is just an extension of Hidden-Tear Ransomware which originated from Istanbul, Turkey in 2015.
Cybersecurity Insiders has learned that gamers are now being targeted heavily by hackers as they have high-config graphics cards which are useful for cryptocurrency mining. Since the gamers also have cryptocurrency stored on their digital wallets, they are becoming easy prey to hackers.
Fortinet happens to be a paradise to game lovers as it has a patron count of more than 250 million players. However, parents and teachers from the west are concerned that the game is distracting students and drawing away their attention from studies. Moreover, due to the induction of extreme gun violence into each gaming series, Fortinet is also facing allegations from the society that it is poisoning young minds.
Note- Cyren is an Israel based threat intelligence offering company which offers services such as email security, web security, DNS security, Cloud Sandboxing, anti-spam services, and real-time phishing detection and ransomware protection.
