Kaspersky warns of rise in cyber attacks targeting children through games
A new report from Kaspersky has revealed a significant increase in cyber attacks targeting children via popular video games , with the number of children falling victim to these attacks increasing by 30% during the first half of 2024 compared to the same period the previous year.
The report also revealed that more than 132,000 young gamers were exposed to cyber attacks, raising alarm bells about children's safety in the digital world.
Popular games under fire:
Kaspersky experts examined threats disguised as popular children's toys during the period from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. During this period, Kaspersky security solutions detected more than 6.6 million attack attempts, with cybercriminals using children's toy brands as bait.
Of the 18 games selected for this research, the majority of attacks were related to popular games such as Minecraft, Roblox, and Among Us. According to Kaspersky statistics, over 3 million attack attempts occurred under the guise of Minecraft during the reporting period. Cybercriminals often choose this method of attack based on the popularity of the games among players and their ability to use cheats and mods.
Kaspersky experts believe that the increased success rate of cyber attacks in 2024 reflects the evolution of criminals’ tactics, who are now exploiting current events and using more sophisticated and focused methods, which requires individuals and companies to take stricter security measures.
AI also makes it easier for cybercriminals to carry out sophisticated phishing attacks, as they can now use off-the-shelf tools to create highly realistic phishing pages, increasing the chances of their attacks being successful and targeting young gamers.
Advanced deception techniques:
Scams are rampant in the gaming world, and the most common of these scams is the offer to obtain new skins for characters, such as: clothes or armor, to improve the hero's skills. Some skins are always available and are not new or different, while some are extremely rare, which makes them more desirable.
Kaspersky experts have discovered an example of a scam using the name of the popular game Valorant and the name of the global content creator Mr. Beast. By choosing this content creator and using his image, the scammers aim to attract the attention of children and lure them into carrying out the scam.
To get the unique Mr. Beast skin, victims are asked to enter their gaming account username and password, allowing scammers to take control of accounts and steal data.
One common scam in the gaming world relies on the promise of free in-game currency, such as Pokémon GO. The process begins by luring victims into entering their usernames. They are then directed to supposed surveys to prove they are human, not bots. But once the survey is completed, victims are taken to fake sites promising valuable prizes or free gifts. The real goal of this scam is not to steal payment information, but to convince victims to download malware or participate in other scams.
Another trick scammers use to lure players is to promise them free in-game currency. In one scam discovered under the guise of the Pokémon GO brand, victims are asked to enter their gaming account username and are then asked to take a survey to prove they are not robots.
Once the survey is completed, they are redirected to a fake website promising them free prizes or gifts. This is where the real scam begins. The real goal is not to steal payment information or collect personal data, but to divert victims to other scams, such as downloading malware or participating in various fraudulent schemes.
“Through our research, we have observed an increase in cyberattacks targeting children. Therefore, teaching children how to be safe online and providing them with reliable security solutions to protect them from the growing risks in the digital world are essential to enhancing their safety in the digital environment. By raising children’s awareness of the risks and equipping them with the skills to protect themselves, we can build a safer generation in an increasingly complex digital world,” said Vasily Kolesnikov, security expert at Kaspersky.
Kaspersky experts' advice:
To keep your children safe online, Kaspersky experts recommend following these tips:
- Parents should talk openly and clearly with their children about the risks they may be exposed to online, and set clear rules for using the Internet.
- Help your child choose strong, unique passwords, and remind them to change them regularly.
- Set clear ground rules about what your children can and can't do online, and explain why you have these rules. You should review these as your child gets older.
- Take your child on a fun journey into the world of cybersecurity with Cybersecurity Alphabet , developed by Kaspersky experts to help parents introduce their children to cybersecurity amidst the evolving threat landscape. This book helps your children learn about new technologies, learn key cyber hygiene rules, learn how to avoid online threats, and spot scammers.
- Protect your child in the digital world easily, by using applications such as Kaspersky Safe Kids, which makes it easy for you to monitor your children’s online activity, protect them from harmful content, and set device usage time.
- Protect your child from viruses while playing, by installing a powerful protection program on your child's device, such as (Kaspersky Premium), which works seamlessly with the popular Steam platform and other gaming services.