“2,000 to 3,000 new hits every single day”: Dangerous malware “WeedHack” hides in Minecraft mods, gives attackers webcam access, Steam and Discord passwords, and more
WeedHack, a dangerous malware discovered by McAfee, is being distributed through Minecraft mods and has already affected over 116,000 players since January. The malware is spreading rapidly, with 2,000 to 3,000 new infections occurring daily.
The malware provides attackers with access to sensitive information including webcams, Steam passwords, Discord passwords, and other personal data. Given that Minecraft is one of the most popular and heavily modded games in the world, the mod ecosystem has become an attractive attack vector for hackers seeking to compromise player credentials and hardware access.
Security researchers emphasize the importance of caution when downloading and installing mods, as the prevalence of modding in Minecraft makes it an effective distribution channel for malware. Users who mod Minecraft or know others who do should be aware of this threat and take precautions when downloading mods from untrusted sources.
The rapid rate of new infections suggests that many players may still be at risk, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in gaming communities where user-generated content is a core part of the experience.