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Cyber-crooks Exploit Diablo III and DotA 2 Beta Editions

According to security researchers from MMPC (Microsoft malware Protection Center), the beta versions of Diablo III and DotA (Defense of the Ancients) 2, two largely awaited PC games that were released to be put to test are now targets of cyber-crime assaults, reports softpedia.com dated January 7, 2012.

Essentially according to MMPC, cyber-criminals started publishing bogus versions of the games, which meticulously masked harmful backdoor Trojans and so facilitated entry to contaminated PCs.

Originally, the Center's researchers came across some files on P2P websites that enabled file-sharing and also torrent websites, which concealed a few relatively fresh malware strains.

One malware named dota 2 Betakeys.txt.exe, which contained a backdoor was recognized to be Backdoor:MSIL/Pontoeb.J that if run started collecting confidential data from the contaminated computer system, while transmitted the same back to the person controlling it.

Moreover, Pontoeb, which was detected on December 22, 2011, by utilizing a Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) request, recovers data like SystemDrive, SerialNumber, processor architecture and operating system.

Nevertheless, Pontoeb is designed to fulfill other purposes too like adding the contaminated PC to a botnet through the planting of a backdoor that lets a hacker to gain hold over the system as also issue it specific commands.

The other malware called Fynloski masquerades as 'Diablo' while being one RAT (remote access tool). This one too is a kind of backdoor Trojan, which enables entry to every information and resource on the victim's PC as it intercepts the computer operator's keystrokes, pulls down or executes arbitrary files, as well as deactivates security software. But, most fascinatingly, Fynloski uses certain obfuscation tactic.

Anyhow, MMPC's researchers advise online gamers to go to the authorized Diablo and DotA Internet sites to get the real beta editions and thus let them stay protected from the above backdoor Trojans. Besides, they should be more careful and watchful whilst playing online games.

Conclusively, cyber-criminals haven't solely targeted Diablo III and DotA 2 PC games for disseminating malware. Other widely played PC games, which have been abused previously, also, for disseminating malware are "Keeping Kerrigan from Infection" and "Dota Players Own3d," the MMPC researchers note.

Related article: Cyber Child abuser Sentenced To Imprisonment

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