Faisal Abidi’s Checkpoints In Combating Cheat Code Scam

A cheat code is a code that video game players use to advance levels or gain special powers and benefits. It could be a set of alphanumeric codes or keyboard combinations that give gamers an advantage over other players who do not use a cheat code. Cheat codes are not made explicitly available to the public.

Recently we talked with Faisal Abidi, co-founder of RNF Technologies, and a tech and gaming expert in combating cheat code scams. Cheat code fraud has been a lifeline for some video game enthusiasts when the going gets tough. While these codes are widely used by gamers to improve their performance, they have also been discovered to be popular among cybercriminals. Cheat codes, however, are not the only attack vector; hackers have discovered a variety of other ways to annoy online gamers.

Serving scammers through cheat and modes

• A campaign as old as time in which gamers are targeted using gaming mods and cheat engines.

• The attack methodology involves adding cryptos to cheat codes, engines, and mods, making it difficult for security teams to analyze the attack.

• The attack's ultimate goal was to deliver scammers in control of victims' microphones and web cameras.

• According to Faisal Abidi, who is also the co-founder of Phonato Studios, the scammers use malicious links to game cheats distributed via YouTube videos and social media forums as a lure to attract the attention of gamers.

• The cheat codes were distributed through YouTube advertisements that promised users an 'undetected' cheat for the game.

Free offers are an excellent way to entice players

• As Faisal Abidi revealed, scammers and cybercriminals used the scarcity to create a well-crafted phishing scam against users.

• The scammers behind the scheme promised recipients the console to complete a short survey.

• Instead, duped the targets into providing personal information and handing over money in exchange for the delivery of the console.

When fear and curiosity are used as baits

• Most phishing scams rely on users' curiosity and fear as an attack vector, and gaming enthusiasts are no exception.

• Users with Steam accounts, for example, were duped into a scam that warned them about an illegal purchase on their accounts.

• The phishers instilled fear in their victims by informing them that their accounts would be suspended unless they contacted a phony Steam admin.

As per Faisal Abidi, more than 61 percent of gamers said they had been targeted by malware attacks and scams, including identity theft. As the gaming industry's revenue grows, threat actors will launch more cyberattacks, putting both players, studios, and publishers at risk. This means that the developers will have to adopt ingenious methods and adopt more sophisticated tools to protect their loyal fans from being victims of scammers and cybercriminals who are out to get their money and personal data.

Meanwhile, gamers must be extremely careful and refrain from being taken up by cheat code scams. These might lead to severe malware problems or also leave your device susceptible to hacker attacks. In addition to this, it also spoils others' gaming experiences and also makes the game boring for you! Where's the fun in that?