Cybersecurity Dangers of Downloading Pirated Games
Pirated games are a big business. As quoted from a post on Game Hacks XL Blog, it’s estimated that in 2015, pirates worldwide caused $24 billion in losses to the video game industry. That’s a lot of money. But what many people don’t realize is that there are also serious cybersecurity dangers involved with downloading pirated games. We all know that, with all of the data breaches happening, it’s more important than ever to ensure that our personal information is protected. Now, let’s learn why pirated games can be dangerous from the eye of cybersecurity professionals.
PC-Infecting Malware
Pirated games, besides being illegal, also come with a significant risk of infecting your computer with malware. This is because when you download a pirated game from the internet, you’re also downloading all of the other malicious software that’s been bundled with it. This can include anything from viruses and trojans to spyware and adware. All of these can do severe damage to your computer, and all of them can put your personal information at risk.
Identity Theft
Another serious cybersecurity danger of downloading pirated games is the risk of identity theft. When you download a pirated game, you’re also giving the person who created the pirated copy access to your IP address. With that information, they can find out a lot about you, including your name, address, and even your credit card information. If they can get their hands on that information, they can use it to commit identity theft, which is a serious crime.
Warez Site
A pirated game like “virus-free Minecraft” often comes from a “warez” site. A warez site is a website that will show up in the top result of a search engine for popular games. Yet, instead of leading to the game’s official website, it will take you to a site that offers the game for free. However, these sites are often full of malware and other malicious software we mentioned. So not only will you be risking your computer’s security by downloading from one of these sites, but you’ll also be breaking the law.
Crypto-Mining Malware
In cryptocurrency, mining requires adding and verifying transactions to the blockchain. The crypto miners then got rewarded with cryptocurrency for their work. However, some malicious actors have started embedding cryptocurrency mining software in pirated games. This software will use your computer’s resources to mine cryptocurrency for the person who embedded the software without you even knowing it. Not only does this put a strain on your computer, but it can also lead to higher electricity bills.
Now that you know the dangers of downloading pirated games, what can you do to protect yourself? The best thing you can do is to only download games from official sources, such as the game’s website or an authorized retailer. You should also ensure that your computer is protected with a good antivirus program. And finally, if you decide to download a pirated game, scan it with an antivirus program before you run it. These simple steps can protect yourself from the dangers of downloading pirated games.…