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New Crypto-Ransomware Encrypts Video Game Files

Posted by timothy on from the first-world-problems dept.

An anonymous reader writes A new piece of ransomware that (mis)uses the Cryptolocker "brand" has been analyzed by Bromium researchers, and they discovered that aside from the usual assortment of file types that ransomware usually targets, this variant also encrypts file types associated with video games and game related software. It targets files associated with single-user games Call of Duty, Star Craft 2, Diablo, Fallout 3, Minecraft, Half-Life 2, Dragon Age: Origins, The Elder Scrolls and specifically Skyrim-related files, Star Wars: The Knights Of The Old Republic, WarCraft 3, F.E.A.R, Saint Rows 2, Metro 2033, Assassin's Creed, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Resident Evil 4, Bioshock 2; and online games World of Warcraft, Day Z, League of Legends, World of Tanks, and Metin2. Here's the Bromium Labs report.

3 of 73 comments (clear)

  1. Conspiracy theory by mattventura · · Score: 3, Interesting

    All of these crypto ransomware things are actually a plot to make people associate "encryption" with something bad, so that people will stop using things like encrypted-by-default phones.

  2. Too much pretty graphics by Hey_bob · · Score: 3, Interesting

    At least I'll be able to keep playing Dwarf Fortress and NetHack for another 10mins, until I die. Again.
    YASD.. fun!

  3. Re:Oh no! Please don't encrypt my WoW files! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    WoW has bloated significantly over its lifespan. People with a slower Internet connection will have to wait quite a long time for it to re-download. All while paying Blizzard for access to a service they can't use. Not to mention WoW-addiction. Some might be tempted to pay to speed things up.