Video game giant Activision is looking into a hacking operation aimed at players to steal their login details, according to TechCrunch.
The hackers are targeting players, potentially aiming to steal their passwords for various accounts, including gaming and cryptocurrency wallets. They are gaining access through malware on victims’ devices and snatching login details, as per sources familiar with the matter.
An informed source, requesting anonymity, revealed that Activision Blizzard is actively investigating the incidents to combat the malware and assist affected players by securing and recovering their accounts.
“The spread of the malware is still under investigation,” the source stated. “It’s possible that it’s affecting only individuals with third-party software installed.”
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Activision spokesperson Delaney Simmons reassured TechCrunch that they are aware of the potential compromise of player credentials in the industry due to malware linked to unauthorized software downloads. The company emphasized that their servers have not been breached.
The discovery of the malware campaign was reportedly first made public by Zeebler, a creator of cheating software for the game Call of Duty. Zeebler disclosed that hackers were after gamers, particularly those using cheats, to steal their login information.
Describing it as an “infostealer malware campaign,” Zeebler explained how the malware, disguised as legitimate software, covertly extracts usernames and passwords from unsuspecting victims.
After learning about the hack from a customer who had their cheat software account compromised, Zeebler took action, leading to the discovery of a trove of stolen credentials by the hackers.
Zeebler informed Activision Blizzard and other cheat developers whose users may have been impacted. TechCrunch verified a sample of the allegedly stolen logins as authentic, although the age of the data remains uncertain.
For now, there is no indication that regular players of Activision games are in jeopardy, only those utilizing third-party applications like cheats.
Regardless, Activision’s Simmons advised users who suspect they might be affected to change their passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
