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Video gamers face malware deluge

news.bbc.co.uk — Players of online games are increasingly becoming the target of virus writers, reveals research.

Who dugg this? Made popular 26 days ago

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  • BluZebra, on 11/02/2009, -4/+47Wow... This news is ancient as ****...

    People who play MMO's have known about keyloggers and all that jazz for years...

    As long as you aren't a complete retard on your PC you have nothing to worry about. But alas, 99.99% of PC users are complete retards when using them. "ZOMG!!! I AM THE ONE MILLIONTH CUSTOMER!!!! WHAT DID I WIN!?!?!?"
  • Jerryrad, on 11/02/2009, -3/+26I have a sure fire fix to this problem. Just simply reply to this thread with you account name and password. The always helpful digg community will log in as your character and use our technical prowess to "check your system" and reassure that "everything is OK". Also, don't forget to include which game(s) your information is for.

    -For extra fast help please provide your First Name, Last Name, Social Security number, home address, Mother's Maiden Name, and any/all bank or credit card account information.

    You're information will remain secure by using our new - Hey, they can only see the information when they're not blinking encryption.

    Please send any questions to somerandomasiandude@fakeemails.china.korea.uk.com/yourmom
  • MichaelEgan, on 11/02/2009, -0/+16"Never log onto a game account unless you are on a machine that you trust," he said. "And never download cheats or cracks from websites."

    This says it all. The majority of victims are the very cheaters and gold/account buyers that basically pay these crooks to steal their accounts. If you don't download untrustworthy stuff or visit untrustworthy sites (or adblock their malicious javascript and flash banners) then you're fine.

    But don't worry... It sucks that your account got stolen. Why not get a head-start back with $10k gold for $14 at completelylegitimatesite.cn?
  • cawfee, on 11/02/2009, -0/+11Stop giving out your passwords to friends and family.
    Problem / security issue fixed.
  • UV0001, on 11/02/2009, -0/+11Stop searching for hacks and you won't get keylogged.
  • jeremanrox, on 11/02/2009, -2/+11Go to www.wowplatinum.com now for double platinum with your order!!!

    Quick and easy!!

    All we need is your login information!!

    if you fell for this ***** you deserve to have your account hacked!

  • UV0001, on 11/03/2009, -1/+8*****.

    The chances of you randomly encountering a specific virus or keylogger that is geared toward hacking WoW accounts are slim to none. Most MMO account hackings are caused by either user stupidity (account sharing, falling for phishing scams) or doing things that are against the games ToS such (going to hack sites that exploit browsers and install malware, running "hacks", leveling services, ect). Most of the time, hackings are your own damn fault.
  • inactive, on 11/02/2009, -1/+8What is real? What is success? Is working 9-5 for 40 years only to have your pension fund poorly managed and you lose everything rational?

    We all find meaning in different aspects of life.
  • Zarokima, on 11/03/2009, -0/+6Thanks, my account name is AzureDiamond and my password is hunter2. When can I expect results?
  • NoSpacesHereMan, on 11/03/2009, -0/+5What's the catch?
  • Supertrout, on 11/02/2009, -1/+5Give me you credit card number and I will tell you if was stolen.
  • Zarokima, on 11/03/2009, -0/+3"Just download this and your character is guaranteed to be in possession of millions of gold."
  • Kral, on 11/03/2009, -0/+3So routers, firewalls, port forwarding, and antivirus now stop you from entering your username and password at a site your in-game mail told you will sign you up for the next WoW beta? Because that's how most of these accounts are stolen these days, you muppet.
  • inactive, on 11/03/2009, -0/+3value is subjective nothing has intrinsic value we apply false value to all things. You value that which you value and I what I value. My glittering fools gold is just as worthless as yours so why don't you let me enjoy it in peace and Ill you do the same. Cause either way we aren't taking it with us when we die.
  • nepidae, on 11/02/2009, -1/+4Right...
  • therealrico, on 11/03/2009, -0/+3Good old Digg. getting dugg down for a legitimate question. Think about it, on Wii's and PS3's you can surf the internet so why isn't is possible to get a virus on those machines. And on 360's you have access to twitter and facebook, both of which have been targeted with viruses, its just a question.
  • inactive, on 11/03/2009, -0/+2There was a *hack* for a game caled legend of mir, basicly it was a box that said please write how much gold you would like, and tick wich items you want to recive, then please enter your account name and password. you will then recive the items.
  • MichaelEgan, on 11/02/2009, -0/+2If you download a reputable addon from a reputable site (e.g. for Curse.com, WoWInterface, etc.) then you're fine. Addons are not cheats. I'd classify untrustworthy stuff as botting programs, private servers, etc. - not your latest Deadly Boss Mods version.
  • stoneage7, on 11/03/2009, -0/+2"Never log onto a game account unless you are on a machine that you trust"
    Couldn't agree more. It's true for all accounts, not just games.
  • cawfee, on 11/03/2009, -0/+2Many of my friends get upset that I won't let them use my logins for harmless, temporary purposes. The second you surrender your password to someone you have no direct system control over, you're basically tossing it into the wild, no matter how good of a buddy they are. You have no way of controlling their computer security, what sites they visit, what they download, how fast they are about reacting to vulnerability patch releases and how confidentially they treat your information. All it takes is one keylogger on -their- system and your 32-character super-secure password is useless.

    Also:
    http://keepass.info/
  • Tomeron, on 11/03/2009, -0/+2I love you.
  • inactive, on 11/03/2009, -1/+2Sum one with some sense, i have only antivirus with window FW turned off. never had any problems,

    just don't download films that are called*diehard2dieharder.exe*

    or *films* that are 122KB if u know what your looking for its pretty easy to keep safe.
  • inactive, on 11/03/2009, -0/+1OH NOES SUM1 STOLE MY NAME ON GTA.

    unless you are a tard you won't have bank details etc left on your Xbox, Only reason i can think of a virus for any of the consoles is microsoft trying to break PS3's lol

    it is posible tho with browsers on consoles nowadays.
  • inactive, on 11/02/2009, -1/+2What about those of us who are legit players and only use addons that are "old" I.e cartogrpher pally power addons that have been around since blizz started letting people use addons. I don't buy gold or anything like that. Your right though with the "Why not get a head-start back with $10k gold for $14 at completelylegitimatesite.cn?" that is soo their tactic.
  • noumuon, on 11/03/2009, -0/+1actually UV, there was a time when people used flash as a vector to install a keylogger that targetted WoW players which was found on legitimate sites (forums and such) simply through flash ads. of course, this was a while ago and it sounds like elsenor has a rather infected computer.
  • inactive, on 11/03/2009, -0/+1No one would have hacked anything, you would have verbaly told someone your details, this us not hacking......
  • saucercrab, on 11/03/2009, -0/+1You're not wrong Walter, you're just an *****.
  • Raptor007, on 11/03/2009, -0/+1The ideal solution is a physical router, with the ports you need forwarded to your PC. If you have that, you can (and should) disable stupid software firewalls.
  • funkmunky, on 11/03/2009, -0/+0Oi, that's my email you tnuc! :-P
  • funkmunky, on 11/03/2009, -2/+2Ever heard of a firewall?
  • therealrico, on 11/02/2009, -2/+2So does this only concern PC based games, or are console games also in jeopardy? I will admit I am not the most knowledgeable about this sort of thing, but it seems to me like it could be easy to attack a console game because it doesn't seem to have any security measures. . . am I wrong?
  • funkmunky, on 11/22/2009, -0/+0If people are stupid enough to fall for crap like that then it's their own fault.

    Besides, routers, firewalls and antivirus will protect your computer from malware, which is what the article was about; and not to do with stupid morons giving away their login details, so you are obviously the muppet...
  • YumYumTruck, on 11/03/2009, -0/+0Your console really shouldn't be connecting to anything untrustworthy, usually just Live/psn/Whatever-the-wii-uses and game servers. None of those are likely to be out for your console. Second, I doubt its a real target, considering the aforementioned low chance of someone stumbling upon the virus, and the lack of things to actually do with the console. Really, I don't see what information or things they would be able to obtain from your console. As for acual security measures the console has in place, I don't know, its probably enough. I wouldn't worry, however, this is just my guess, and I would still be somewhat careful with what you browse.
  • inactive, on 11/02/2009, -2/+1I use those two sites. I really think there is a security vulnrability in the new battle.net. Been playing since BC no changes in my game behavior or surfing no hacks. Battle.net comes out and 7 attacks since battle.net launch.
  • lolerskate, on 11/02/2009, -3/+2most of the time people that get hacked because the downloaded something or opened a program that lets loose a hack on their computers.
  • allisonV12, on 11/03/2009, -1/+0Then why the thievery and abuse on something that has no intrinsic value or physical reality such as online gaming.
    People are spending fools Gold to play the part of a fake hero.
    So their is reality to all the madness.
    Because your heavenly outlook hasn't made it to planet Earth,so people play the part of an ***** no matter if they are at a Hindu temple or a Fantasy world of pixels and mouse clicks.
  • muffinmonk, on 11/02/2009, -4/+2What?!
  • allisonV12, on 11/03/2009, -3/+1So what is reality?
    Staring a monitor blue screen in a cubical cage and inhaling toxic tainted A-C recycled air with an Ogre boss breathing down your neck for 40 life stealing years.

    Thinking about it that way,Im not so sure what is reality.

    But...online gaming loot is another worthless pyramid scheme.Just get rid of that value system and you wont have hackers ruining your day.
  • funkmunky, on 11/03/2009, -4/+0Old news... All because so many gamers are complete muppets who disable their security, instead of configuring it properly... You need to look at forwarding ports and making exceptions in your routers/firewall/antivirus instead of turning them off... Muppets...
  • inactive, on 11/03/2009, -7/+1@ cawfee and UV

    If I was doing any of those things you would be spot on but problem is Im freakin not, and Im not the only one. Alot of people who aren't doing anything stupid or illegal are getting caught up in all the BS. All over virtual ***** gold, lamesauce.
  • inactive, on 11/03/2009, -8/+1Believe what you will UV. This is a Russell's teapot scenario.
  • Zamfir, on 11/02/2009, -8/+1Thanks Microsoft.
  • allisonV12, on 11/02/2009, -10/+2"Hijacked accounts are plundered for in-game booty or sold on through the net's underground market places"

    Ha ha....maybe now the loot addicted gamers will finally get a life.Spending a year 24/7 collecting loot and then have it all stolen in one day must be really demoralizing to the wannabe Orc slayer of Middle Earth.
  • Grumpymonk, on 11/02/2009, -10/+0Can you blame those nerdy virus writers? They probably play just as much Counterstrike as those who wish they could make viruses to annoy the crap out of somebody. They lose in deathmatch, they %^&* up your computer. You are a trash talking turd, they %^&* up your computer. They release hidden viruses within pirated videogames and you get what you deserve...

    always read the torrent comments folks. Make sure its verified by the community of theives.
  • inactive, on 11/02/2009, -13/+3This article is sooo spot on. I am aware of viruses keyloggers etc and yet in the last week on a clean hardrive I have had my WoW account hacked 5 times. 16 alphanumeric passcode. It sucks i had to buy one of those damned authenticator keychains just so i can stop having to call blizzard.

    Btw I use AVG, spybot, and lavasoft's adaware.

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