UAE, Saudi gamers need to be extra careful about 'info-stealer' attacks

Dubai: Online gaming fans in the UAE and Saudi Arabia need to be extra careful on being exposed to malicious info-stealer content.

“Victims are lured with what appear to be beta versions of indie games such as Baruda Quest, Warstorm Fire, and Dire Talon,” says a new report from the Acronis Threat Research Unit (TRU) on malware threats. “Instead what ends up being downloaded is infostealer malware like Leet Stealer, RMC Stealer, and Sniffer Stealer.”

The online gaming industry is valued at over $7 billion in the Middle East, with high take up rates among a younger audience.

The ‘malicious software steals sensitive information including login credentials, payment details, and crypto wallets’, the report adds. It can ‘result in account takeovers, financial loss, and extortion’.

“Unlike most malware that focuses on corporate networks, this campaign exploits the enthusiasm of the gaming community, particularly those eager to access unreleased or early-access content,” the report adds.

“This campaign is notable for its sophistication and its focus on what could be considered a highly tech-savvy demograhic,” said Jozsef Gegeny, Senior Researcher at Acronis TRU. “Our team uncovered the threat by analysing a wave of suspicious files and websites masquerading as legitimate game content, which were spreading largely undetected by major antivirus tools.

“While enterprises are often protected by managed service providers and robust defences, consumers remain highly exposed to such risks.”