Malware Hidden in Pirated Games Infects 400,000 Devices

Desperate noobs with no knowledge regarding piracy usually fall for those fake download buttons, which lead to malware (using AdBlocker is a must), while I downloaded one after a long while, a few days ago, which instead of having malware, had a false positive, which I submitted to Microsoft, Avast, ESET and Symantec. ESET and Symantec have removed the detection, Avast hasn't responded and stupid Microsoft has stopped reviewing user-submitted false positives since maybe 2023, at least in my experience; so they haven't and won't review the submission.
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SeriousHoax said:
Desperate noobs with no knowledge regarding piracy usually fall for those fake download buttons, which lead to malware (using AdBlocker is a must), while I downloaded one after a long while, a few days ago, which instead of having malware, had a false positive, which I submitted to Microsoft, Avast, ESET and Symantec. ESET and Symantec have removed the detection, Avast hasn't responded and stupid Microsoft has stopped reviewing user-submitted false positives since maybe 2023, at least in my experience; so they haven't and won't review the submission.
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It’s easy to throw around insults like 'desperate noobs' when you don't grasp the scope of the infection. You're talking about avoiding fake download buttons, but the reports clearly show this malware is baked directly into the actual game installers. Flexing about a false positive submission doesn't make you an expert on a massive, global compromise.
 
The MUSO 2024 report cannot be used to derive the country-specific data on software piracy.
So far, we can see in this thread three different statistics on piracy (BSA, Revenera, and MUSO). All are incomparable because they measure different metrics.
 
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Andy Ful said:
The MUSO 2024 report cannot be used to derive the country-specific data on software piracy.
So far, we can see in this thread three different statistics on piracy (BSA, Revenera, and MUSO). All are incomparable because they measure different metrics.
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The original post is describing statistics of certain games piracy rates; the generalized piracy rates is expected to be variable.
 
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Divergent said:
It’s easy to throw around insults like 'desperate noobs' when you don't grasp the scope of the infection. You're talking about avoiding fake download buttons, but the reports clearly show this malware is baked directly into the actual game installers. Flexing about a false positive submission doesn't make you an expert on a massive, global compromise.
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You missed the part "no knowledge regarding piracy". So, only desperate noobs with no knowledge regarding piracy would even go to those sites to download in the first place. Even pirating requires knowledge and experience to know which sources are safe and how to stay out of trouble. I'm not flexing since piracy is not a matter of flexing. It seems you don't know much about this sector, that would mean you don't download pirated stuff, at least games; which is good for you. It's always better to buy games.
 
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Parkinsond said:
The original post is describing statistics of certain games piracy rates; the generalized piracy rates is expected to be variable.
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My posts were related to general statistics on software piracy, as an addition to your and @bazang's posts.
 
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Andy Ful said:
My posts were related to general statistics on software piracy, as an addition to your and @bazang's posts.
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What I'm referring to is that the relative frequency for countries regarding total piracy is expected not to be identical to that provided by PC Magazine which is concerning a specific group of pirated games; it does not mean any is incorrect.
 
Parkinsond said:
What I'm referring to is that the relative frequency for countries regarding total piracy is expected not to be identical to that provided by PC Magazine which is concerning a specific group of pirated games; it does not mean any is incorrect.
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Yes, I understand. The map from PC Magazine does not require discussion.
However, for a piracy thread, it would be better to normalize the data per 1 user:
Spain .................... 0.39
France, Turkey .. 0.21
Russia, Egypt ..... 0.16
Brazil ..................... 0.12
US .......................... 0.09
Pakistan ............... 0.06
Indonesia ............ 0.05
India ...................... 0.03

As we can see, India is now the last (instead of being first). :)

Edit.
This is a combined result of game popularity and piracy in countries.
 
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Andy Ful said:
Yes, I understand. The map from PC Magazine does not require discussion.
However, for a piracy thread, it would be better to normalize the data per 1 user:
Spain .................... 0.39
France, Turkey .. 0.21
Russia, Egypt ..... 0.16
Brazil ..................... 0.12
US .......................... 0.09
Pakistan ............... 0.06
Indonesia ............ 0.05
India ...................... 0.03

As we can see, India is now the last (instead of being first). :)
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Egypt is a top performer in all the stats 🙈
 
Parkinsond said:
You are not a trustworthy member to follow his advice; I have better members to trust.
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I do not care who you find trustworthy or not.

What I stated is factual.

You can believe whatever numbers you wish.

In this world you have the right to be wrong.

Try harder.
 
Parkinsond said:
At least a valid source, not AI copied text.
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Anyone that does NOT learn to use AI to a high level, is living in the era of dinosaurs and obsidian fishing hooks.

Example: The Rapa Nui (Easter Island) culture.

Instead of spending so much time online, you'd be better off studying-up by reading a "TOP 10 IT and CyberSec" text/book list (and no, PDFs don't count).
 
Parkinsond said:
I will not be tricked into fight
Try harder :)
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My intent is not to trick you into a fight.

If you do not like my posts, then my advice to you is not to reply and place me onto your MT block list - or just do not read my content.
 
bazang said:
Anyone that does NOT learn to use AI to a high level, is living in the era of dinosaurs and obsidian fishing hooks.

Example: The Rapa Nui (Easter Island) culture.

Instead of spending so much time online, you'd be better off studying-up by reading a "TOP 10 IT and CyberSec" text/book list (and no, PDFs don't count).
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I can use AI; AI is cheap; real-life experience, like I get from some MT members (not you) is valuable.
Keep your cheap text for you; I can get it when I need.
 
AI is just a tool - it provides high speed and extremely high efficiency.

Now if I could only get it to chew 40 pieces of Bazooka bubblegum (original version) everywhere all at once.

@Divergent
 
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