Scammers targeting kids and teen Minecraft gamers, security expert warns
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Minecraft is a popular online video game where users can "build" their virtual worlds, but cybersecurity experts warn that scammers are targeting these young users, who may be unknowingly downloading malware disguised as game-enhancing "mods."
Aaron Rose, Security Architect Manager at Check Point Software Technologies, explained how scammers could use these mods for fraudulent purposes.
"These mods allow you to enhance the game in some way, but what they're actually doing is they're using it to deploy malware," Rose said.
There are two main versions of Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, which includes a built-in marketplace where all content is reviewed for safety, and Java Edition, which allows players to download mods from third-party websites not affiliated with Minecraft. This is where the risk increases. These mods from outside sources can be a gateway for scammers to infect devices with malicious software. If a third-party mod is downloaded, Rose says scammers can silently install malware.
"What's really happening in the background is it's actually essentially installing something like a Trojan horse or a Trojan of sorts. Then from there, that Trojan can be remotely controlled," Rose said.
He said scammers could gain access to private information.
"Might deliver some new type of payload or piece of malware that could be stealing, you know, financial details like a keylogger," Rose said. "It can be getting screenshots or even looking for like crypto, you know, like cryptocurrency wallets, that sort of thing."
Even though children may not have sensitive data to steal, they are often playing on devices used by the whole family. Rose emphasized that educating your children is key to protecting your information. In addition, he urged consumers to protect their devices.
"No. 1, make sure you have, you know, antivirus, anti-malware protection," Rose said. "It's an excellent solution that you could have on your desktop."
A spokesperson for Microsoft said that, "Player safety is a top priority for us and we're committed to investigating reported security violations. When we receive reports of content that does not comply with our usage guidelines, we take action as appropriate. We encourage players to report any suspicious content through our official website and leverage our resources to make informed choices."
Microsoft also highlighted in its Player Safety Tips that Minecraft provides several safety features, including abuse reporting, parental controls, community standards enforcement, proactive moderation, human oversight, and server-level reporting.
To keep your data safe, have regular conversations with your children about internet safety, and remind them not to download content from unknown sources. Security experts also advise you to invest in anti-malware software.
