Ransomware Targets Players of Fortnite

Players of Fortnite, the world’s most popular computer game, have been targeted by ransomware. Cybersecurity firm Cyren has discovered that the free game hack called”Syrk” pretending to allow players to aim more accurately when playing the game, is actually ransomware.

Syrk seems to be built off an open-source form of ransomware known as Hidden-Cry. Hidden-Cry is widely available and was even available on GitHub at one time. Like all the ransomware that came before it, the code encrypts files and demands payments with the addition of threats that files will be deleted at entries until such time that the ransom payment is made.

Forchenently because Syrk uses open-source code, the researchers found that target files can be decrypted and recovered (as long as they haven’t been deleted) using a Hidden-Cry decryption tool.

The popularity of Fortnite has made it a target for scammers in the past. In 2018 ZeroFox, another cybersecurity company, discovered 53,000 Fortnite scams over a one-month period.

Ransomeware being used to target players is a predictable trajectory. Police departments and law firms have already been targeted by ransomware.

UPDATE: 22 Cities in Texas have also been hit with ransomware

With an estimated 250 million players worldwide Fortnite gamers are a big target.

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