Gamers found themselves under threat this week, not from virtual baddies but from ransomware targeting players of Fortnite, a wildly popular online game. Some players downloaded what they thought was a helpful in-game add-on, but it turned out to be malware. Once it infects the targeted computer, the "Syrk" ransomware locks out its owner and promises to delete the computer's files unless a bounty is paid. Fortnite players appear to be favorite targets of bad actors. Other malware infects gamers' high-powered computers and uses them to mine cryptocurrencies.
French cops have broken up a botnet ring, which some estimate has made millions from fraud. The virus had infected thousands of computers in more than 100 countries, primarily in the Americas. As part of their plot, the fraudsters used ransomware, stole data from Israeli hospitals and patients, and even "mined" the cryptocurrency Monero. Investigators are still looking for those behind the scheme.
Cryptocurrency users are being warned about a new type of online attack, called "dusting." Fraudsters send limited coins to users' personal wallets and then track down their transactional activity. The attackers then perform a combined analysis of the pertinent IP addresses to identify the person or company controlling the wallet; phishing or blackmail follows. Experts advise using a VPN to vary IP addresses or using other methods that prevent monitoring by criminals.
For more information, please refer to the following links:
- Fortnite Ransomware Masquerades as an Aimbot Game Hack
- French ‘cybercops’ dismantle pirate computer network
- BINANCE-LITECOIN DUSTING ATTACK: EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW
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