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Buy and saveScammers target Minecraft fans with malware
Users of the game are being conned into downloading malware
Tali writes about scams and consumer rights for Which? delving into fraud, technology and consumer rights topics to keep readers safe and empowered.
Scammers are disguising malware in links from YouTube videos promoting extra Minecraft features and add-ons.
With millions of users worldwide, Minecraft is a popular video game in which players build virtual worlds. It has a huge following and is particularly popular with children.
Scammers have previously targeted Minecraft fans, and now cybersecurity firm McAfee has warned that it has found 240 scam websites responsible for distributing malware.
It warned that the 'Weedhack' scam typically sees fraudsters trading malware services to other fraudsters. In this particular case, the malware has been found promoted in links from Minecraft gaming videos on YouTube.
If malware is installed on your device, fraudsters may be able to use it to steal passwords and access accounts, files or even your device's webcam. McAfee has warned that, in some cases, fraudsters have used the malware to harass and cyberbully victims.
Read on to discover how this scam works and how to avoid it.
Minecraft scam
Fraudsters were found to be building polished and 'well-edited' videos with 'background music' to encourage views. One video McAfee found had more than 7,500 views. Some comments beneath the videos also claimed the files being promoted were safe to download.
Since January, McAfee has seen 116,000 victim infections linked to this scam, with an average of 2,000-3,000 new incidents a day.
Weedhack is available to fraudsters for free, or a premium service starts at just $4.99 a month.
The free service gives scammers access to screenshots of the victim's screen, their computer name and IP address and saved passwords and cookies from 36 browsers.
In addition to this, the premium service offers live webcam access and screen sharing with keyboard and mouse control, as well as the ability to upload, download and delete files remotely.
What to do about malware
If you or someone you know becomes a victim of this scam, it’s important not to engage with the fraudster or follow their instructions.
To remove malware from a Windows computer:
- Select the Start button.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Apps (in Windows 10, select Apps > Apps & features; in Windows 11, select Apps > Installed apps).
- Review the list of installed programs and look for anything you don’t recognise. If you find something suspicious, select it and click Uninstall.
- Right-click your Recycle Bin and select Empty Recycle Bin.
- Open File Explorer (the yellow folder icon), go to your Downloads folder, and delete any files you don’t recognise or didn’t want to download.
On a Mac:
- Open Finder and your Applications folder.
- See if there are any apps you don’t recognise or remember downloading.
- If there are any, delete them by selecting the app, then choosing File > Move to Bin.
- Once done, empty the Bin (right-click the Bin icon in the Dock and select Empty Bin).
- Follow the same steps in your Downloads folder.
After completing these steps, make sure you download an antivirus. We always recommend a top-notch free option in this scenario. This avoids the risk of your payment details potentially being monitored or recorded by fraudsters.
Scams should also be reported to Report Fraud, or by calling the police on 101 if you live in Scotland.
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