Throughout the years, we’ve encountered numerous harmful applications on the Google Play Store and a handful on the Apple App Store. Recently, Steam, the beloved digital storefront for PC games, removed a malicious title from its platform.
According to Game Rant, this particular game was only available for purchase and download for a brief period. It was launched in early February and taken down just a week later. Nonetheless, Valve is advising anyone who downloaded it to perform a complete reset of their PC as a precaution.
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Developed by an indie creator with no online presence—a significant warning sign—PirateFi was a standard survival simulation that mirrored the gameplay of Rust while adopting an aesthetic reminiscent of Sea of Thieves. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t attract much interest, but it still poses a considerable threat to anyone who played it while it was accessible on Steam.
Following the game’s removal, Valve started notifying players who had interacted with it, cautioning them that: “The developer’s Steam account uploaded versions of this game that are suspected to contain malware.”
Before resorting to a complete PC reset, the company recommends that affected users conduct a thorough system scan, which can be done at no cost using Microsoft Defender. Given that hackers are now targeting legitimate games rather than just pirated ones, it may also be wise to consider investing in high-quality antivirus software for extra security.
Valve has also advised users who have downloaded PirateFi to check their gaming PCs for any “unfamiliar or newly installed software,” as these can indicate that your system may have been infected with malware.
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While it should be considered a last option, completely reformatting your gaming PC is sound advice in such cases, as it guarantees the removal of any lingering malicious software from your machine.
Tips for Protecting Your Gaming PC from Malware
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Much like with any high-quality smartphone, every application or software you install on your gaming PC carries the risk of being harmful. Therefore, it’s crucial to exercise caution when downloading new games and mods.
Choosing a trusted game platform like Steam is a solid starting point; however, as this situation demonstrates, there is still a possibility of inadvertently downloading a harmful application. This underscores the importance of thoroughly checking a game’s ratings and reviews, much like you would with mobile apps. Whenever possible, research the developer behind the game. A brief search for Seaworth Interactive, the creator of PirateFi, yields only a SteamDB page rather than an official website. This lack of information should raise red flags and prompt you to reconsider downloading this game.
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Since reviews on the game page can be manipulated, it’s wise to seek out external reviews and video content to see gameplay before making a purchase or download. A quick YouTube search didn’t turn up any trailers or gameplay footage; instead, I found videos discussing how this indie title was distributing malware on Steam. This serves as another compelling reason to steer clear of that particular game.
Given that on-page reviews can be manipulated, it’s wise to seek out external reviews and video demonstrations of a game before making a purchase or download. A brief search on YouTube yielded no trailers or gameplay footage; instead, I came across videos discussing how this new indie game was allegedly distributing malware on Steam. This serves as an additional reason to steer clear of that particular title.
Beyond utilizing antivirus software to protect against malware, you might also consider investing in top-notch identity theft protection services. These services can assist in recovering your identity or any lost funds due to fraud from a harmful game.
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Hackers often target gamers, and similar to mobile app stores, malicious games like PirateFi could soon become more common. Therefore, it’s crucial for you to carefully assess whether downloading a specific game or even a mod for a popular title is worth the potential risks. By maintaining good cybersecurity practices and being cautious with your clicks, you can safeguard both your gaming PC and personal data.
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