Cheaters Beware - 90% of Game Hacks Are Infected with Malware says AVG

Not surprising research from AVG that found many so called "game unauthorized hacks" are simply malware being distributed.

Ever notice those warning about not giving out your passwords, etc.? That’s one way you could lose your account or personal information but if you think a hack exists to give you an advantage on a server where companies monitor and ban cheaters, then sorry, you get what you deserve.

The April AVG Insight reveals how the AVG Viruslab Research Group has identified that more than 90% of all unauthorized ‘hacks’ for major computer games are infected with malware. These hacks take many forms, including cheats, patches and ‘keygens’ that enable use of pirated games, but all are designed to appeal to players looking to either accelerate their in-game process or get something for free. However, while the hacks may appear attractive at first glance, most are created by cybercriminals looking to pry, disrupt or steal.

Although only a small percentage of those gamers will go looking for a hack, the top 5 games are played by an aggregate total of around 330 million players worldwide, meaning the potential target market for the cybercriminals is still huge – even if just 0.1% of players go looking for a hack, that could mean 330,000 gamers are at risk of falling victim to the malware.

To read the full AVG Insight on the AVG Media Center, or to download a PDF copy, please click here.