As the new school year kicks off, students are preparing for a return to classes, new friendships, and a re-immersion into the expansive digital realm of video games.

Nonetheless, this seemingly innocuous virtual world is not as secure as it appears. Cybercriminals have set their sights on young gamers, taking advantage of their passion for popular games.

This feature delves into the specific games that are frequently targeted, the types of threats aimed at these games, and essential tips for parents and young gamers to safeguard themselves.

The Most Targeted Games

According to a recent report from cybersecurity experts at Kaspersky, several well-known games have emerged as prime targets for cybercriminals.

Data collected from the global Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) highlights the games that experienced the highest volume of attack attempts from July 2023 to July 2024.

Here is a breakdown of the most targeted games:

Minecraft: 3,094,057 attack attempts
Roblox: 1,649,745 attack attempts
Among Us: 945,571 attack attempts
Brawl Stars: 309,554 attack attempts
Five Nights at Freddy’s: 219,033 attack attempts
Fortnite: 165,859 attack attempts
Angry Birds: 66,754 attack attempts
The Legend of Zelda: 33,774 attack attempts
Toca Life World: 28,360 attack attempts
Valorant: 28,119 attack attempts
Mario Kart: 14,682 attack attempts
Subway Surfers: 14,254 attack attempts
Overwatch 2: 9,076 attack attempts
Animal Crossing: 8,262 attack attempts
Apex Legend: 8,133 attack attempts

Minecraft leads the list with over three million attack attempts, nearly doubling the number of attacks on the second-place game, Roblox.

The high incidence of attacks on Minecraft is primarily attributed to the popularity of mods and cheats, which often serve as a disguise for malicious software.

Common Threats and Scams

Various forms of threats are aimed at these games, with downloaders, adware, Trojans, and backdoors posing the greatest risks.

Downloaders are a particularly significant threat, as they often pose as legitimate game enhancements but instead download harmful software onto users’ devices.

Phishing scams are also rampant, with scammers enticing young gamers with promises of free in-game items such as skins or currency, leading them to enter their account credentials on fraudulent websites.

For example, a scam involving the game Valorant and popular YouTuber MrBeast enticed players with the prospect of free skins, only to compromise their accounts.

The Lure of Freebies

Phishing schemes often exploit the appeal of free in-game currency or items.

Many games feature a dual currency system: soft currency earned through gameplay and hard currency purchased with real money.

Scammers typically promise free hard currency, luring players to phishing sites where they risk losing their gaming accounts and sensitive personal information.

One noteworthy instance involves Pokémon GO, where players are fooled into providing their credentials for free currency, only to be redirected to more hazardous scams targeting financial data.

Protecting Young Gamers

To ensure the safety of young gamers, parents and guardians must educate them about the dangers of downloading mods from untrusted sources and providing personal information on unfamiliar websites.

Here are some actionable tips:

Use Trusted Sources: Encourage downloading games and mods only from official platforms such as app stores or the game’s official website.
Educate on Phishing: Teach children to identify phishing attempts and to be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true.
Install Security Software: Utilize reliable cybersecurity solutions that offer real-time protection against malware and phishing attacks.
Monitor Online Activity: Supervise the games and websites your children frequent and discuss any unusual activity with them.
By remaining vigilant and well-informed, parents and young gamers can relish the digital world securely, freeing the joy of gaming from the lurking online threats.

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