The security specialists from Cyren have discovered a hack in Fortnite that could theoretically endanger millions of players. It is ransomware disguised as an “Aimbot.” The company warns about the Aimbot and explains what happens when the file is executed.
What does the warning refer to? According to Cyren, it concerns the Aimbot “Syrk” with the filename “SyndeyFortniteHacks.exe”:
- The Aimbot promises to improve players’ aiming in Fortnite
- In fact, it aims to exploit the user’s money and wants to squeeze it out of them
Cyren believes the hack is distributed through download sites or Fortnite forums.
Ransomware encrypts the user’s data
What does this hack do? Anyone who downloads the “Aimbot” receives a 12 MB file. Those who execute this exe first disable their Windows Defender and deactivate further options to combat the malware.
After that, Syrk encrypts the user’s files such as images, videos, and documents.
Ultimately, the user receives a message stating they must contact an email address and then “pay” an unspecified amount. There is the email contact where they should do exactly that. If they do not do so within two hours, all data would gradually be deleted, it says.
The ransomware creates a sense of urgency with countdowns, making the user feel they must act immediately.
What can be done about it? Anyone who has actually downloaded and executed this Aimbot will find information on the Cyren website on how to decrypt the data.
The ransomware being used is open source – it is therefore possible to decrypt the data.
Otherwise, the simple advice to avoid downloading any Aimbot helps.
Fortnite in the focus of the bad guys
Why are hacks so common in Fortnite? Hackers are increasingly targeting Fortnite, due to the game’s massive install base. With 250 million players, many of whom are young, the game is a prime candidate for such programs – even if this hack apparently only endangers PC players, the number of potential victims remains huge.
Security companies like Cyren uncover such hacks and provide detailed reports on what is happening and how to protect oneself.
Aimbots, in particular, are a popular way to trick and attack players. Cheat tools are widespread in Fortnite – some cheaters are incredibly brazen.
Just a few weeks ago, a very similar report about Fortnite emerged:
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