Gamer's cancer fund drained by Steam scam
It’s moments like these that really make you pause and reflect on the wild west that the internet, and particularly the gaming world, can sometimes feel like. We've all probably seen those exciting announcements for new games or gaming events, and it’s easy to get swept up in the hype. SEGA, for instance, is gearing up for their first official Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds tournament through Twitch Rivals. Imagine the thrill of creators battling it out, not just for bragging rights, but for a cash prize too! Qualifiers are happening this September, with finals in early October. It’s a fun reminder of how platforms like Twitch bring communities together for shared experiences and healthy competition.
However, this week, a darker story has emerged that casts a shadow over that excitement. A gamer, who was bravely raising funds for life-saving cancer treatment, found himself a victim of a devastating scam. As reported by BleepingComputer, a game called BlockBlasters, which was available on Steam, turned out to be a Trojan horse of sorts. After being downloaded and played by the streamer, Raivo Plavnieks, it’s believed to have drained over $32,000 from his cryptocurrency wallet. This is a heart-wrenching situation, where someone’s vulnerability and trust were exploited in the most cruel way. It’s deeply troubling to think that a "verified" game on a platform like Steam could harbor such malicious intent.
What’s particularly concerning, as unearthed by cybersecurity researchers and groups like VX-Underground, is the scale of this attack. It appears that not only Raivo Plavnieks was targeted. Reports suggest hundreds of other Steam accounts, specifically those identified as holding significant cryptocurrency amounts, might have been compromised. The attackers apparently used a sophisticated method involving batch scripts to steal login information and IP addresses, then uploaded it to a command and control system. It’s a stark reminder that even in the digital spaces where we seek entertainment and connection, threats can lurk. This incident really highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring the security of online platforms and protecting users from sophisticated scams. It makes you wonder, what more can be done to safeguard these communities?
However, this week, a darker story has emerged that casts a shadow over that excitement. A gamer, who was bravely raising funds for life-saving cancer treatment, found himself a victim of a devastating scam. As reported by BleepingComputer, a game called BlockBlasters, which was available on Steam, turned out to be a Trojan horse of sorts. After being downloaded and played by the streamer, Raivo Plavnieks, it’s believed to have drained over $32,000 from his cryptocurrency wallet. This is a heart-wrenching situation, where someone’s vulnerability and trust were exploited in the most cruel way. It’s deeply troubling to think that a "verified" game on a platform like Steam could harbor such malicious intent.
What’s particularly concerning, as unearthed by cybersecurity researchers and groups like VX-Underground, is the scale of this attack. It appears that not only Raivo Plavnieks was targeted. Reports suggest hundreds of other Steam accounts, specifically those identified as holding significant cryptocurrency amounts, might have been compromised. The attackers apparently used a sophisticated method involving batch scripts to steal login information and IP addresses, then uploaded it to a command and control system. It’s a stark reminder that even in the digital spaces where we seek entertainment and connection, threats can lurk. This incident really highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring the security of online platforms and protecting users from sophisticated scams. It makes you wonder, what more can be done to safeguard these communities?
