Gamers found themselves under threat this week, not from virtual
baddies but from ransomware targeting players of Fortnite, a wildly
popular online game. Some players downloaded what they thought was
a helpful in-game add-on, but it turned out to be malware. Once it
infects the targeted computer, the "Syrk" ransomware
locks out its owner and promises to delete the computer's files
unless a bounty is paid. Fortnite players appear to be favorite
targets of bad actors. Other malware infects gamers'
high-powered computers and uses them to mine cryptocurrencies.
French cops have broken up a botnet ring, which some estimate
has made millions from fraud. The virus had infected thousands of
computers in more than 100 countries, primarily in the Americas. As
part of their plot, the fraudsters used ransomware, stole data from
Israeli hospitals and patients, and even "mined" the
cryptocurrency Monero. Investigators are still looking for those
behind the scheme.
