Whenever there's a huge trend online, scammers and hackers are not too far behind. Malicious agents love trends because it allows them to disguise their payloads as highly sought-after files, thus tricking people into downloading them.

Gaming is no different, and malware developers always keep their eyes on which game to trick people with next. And given how popular Minecraft is, hackers flock to it en-masse. As such, let's explore how hackers target Minecraft and the other popular games that are in their sights.

Malware Developers are Targeting Minecraft

A village in Minecraft

Atlas VPN published a report on which games are hotspots for malware developers. The report took into account both the PC and mobile gaming market and created a list of the most-targeted games for each one.

As you might expect, Minecraft topped the chart on both platforms. On PC, 184,887 players were affected by malware disguised as a Minecraft file, and there were over 3 million total detections of malicious files. On mobile, Minecraft-related malware struck at 44,335 users, and antivirus software spotted 300,000 cases of malware.

How are Malware Developers Attacking Minecraft Players?

It's easy to understand why malware developers are targeting Minecraft players. Given how massive the game is, both on PC and mobile, it's only natural for malicious agents to target it as a potential avenue for spreading malware. But how are these agents attacking Minecraft players?

Minecraft is somewhat unique in the gaming world, as a large part of enjoying the game is accessed by downloading additional files. Minecraft is a fun game by itself, but the ability to download mods brings it to a new level.

Any Minecraft gamer knows the power of mods. A Minecraft mod has the power to change the game in ways thought unimaginable in the base game. Not only that, but content creators can also mish-mash several mods together into what's known as a "modpack," which drastically alters how you play Minecraft on a fundamental level.

Related: How to Download and Install Minecraft Mods

However, you cannot download modpacks from the Minecraft game client. Instead, you need to go through third-party services and websites to get them, and that's where the malware lies.

Kaspersky reported on how the Google Play store experienced a surge of fake modpacks, each of them promising to enhance the user's game. Of course, none of these phony apps did that, but what they did do was spam the user's device with advertisements every two minutes.

What About Other Games?

The Sims

While Minecraft is the worst-off for malware attacks, don't forget that the report covered other games, too. The report mentioned nine other PC games and four other mobiles games as hotspots for malware.

On the PC, we see a similar situation to Minecraft in second place. The Sims 4 is another game that players love to downloads mods for, and with that comes its own wave of malware and infected files.

Related: How to Install The Sims 4 Mods and the Best Mods to Try

After that, the ranking begins breaking down into a collection of popular games that people want to download. Third place goes to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and after that comes Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto 5, Counter-Strike GO, Rocket League, League of Legends, FIFA 21, and Need for Speed Heat in order.

And on mobile, we again see a straight list of popular games that malware developers bandwagon off of to spread their payloads. Among Us sits at second place, followed by PUBG mobile, Free Fire, and Brawl Stars.

How to Avoid Malware Disguised as Video Games

Fortunately, this kind of malware can only function if it manages to trick a user into downloading it. As such, if you know the basics of keeping yourself safe on the internet, then you've done 95% of the work needed to prevent malware from attacking your devices.

1. Only Download Mods From Trusted Sources

Mods can be a hotspot for malware, but that doesn't mean you need to completely cut it out of your life. There are ways you can safely download mods without fear of getting a nasty surprise hidden within.

Every game with modding capabilities has a hub that collates all the mods safely. For example, Minecraft has CurseForge, which boasts a vast catalog of both mods and modpacks.

Of course, even on these websites, you need to stay vigilant. These websites allow users to upload their files, and you can bet that malware developers will try to pass off their wares as legitimate mods.

However, these websites also typically have a rating and review system. Plus, they will let you know when the mod creator first uploaded the mod to the website. As such, if a mod is both well-reviewed and has existed on the website for a long time, there's a very high chance it's legitimate.

2. Avoid "Hacks" and Cheat Programs

You may have noticed that the PC chart is filled with competitive games past the second-place rank. And while the original report didn't go into detail as to how malware developers target these games, we believe that it reported hacks and cheat programs for these games.

Competitive games put a huge onus on coming out on top, and with it comes the desire to cheat. Some players will develop or download tools that give them an edge in competitive games, to the point where game developers have had to pour a lot of energy and time into making tools that defeat these cheats.

Despite this, the desire to win brings out the worst in some gamers, and malware developers know this. As such, it's common to see videos and download links advertising a "hack" or cheating program that will help the player gain an unfair advantage when in actual fact it's just a payload for malware.

As such, never download such programs. Even if you got lucky and dodged the malware-infested versions, there's still a chance you'll be banned from the game once caught. Part of the draw of competitive games is walking the road from beginner to expert, so put in the time and practice and forsake these tools. A win is best savored when it's earned through raw skill!

3. Only Download Games From Their Official Sources

If you want to try out a new game, always download it from the official website or storefront. This advice applies to when you want to give the game a shot for yourself, but it also doubles as advice against pirating games.

If you're a rule-abiding citizen that just wants to play a game, search for the game's official website and follow the store links there. Developers often directly link to where you can buy and download their games, so following those will ensure you don't download a phony. For example, the official Among Us website has a legitimate link to every store the game is on.

And if you're thinking of downloading a game illegally, you'll run into plenty of websites willing to trick you into downloading malware. As such, it's always best to take the official route to avoid malware.

Related: The Real Security Dangers of Downloading Pirated Video Games

Minecraft Mods: A Goldmine for Malware

Malware developers are always finding the next best way to trick people into downloading their payloads, and popular video games are one of these many avenues. Stay vigilant when downloading mods and games, and you'll spend more time having fun and less time trying to remove malware from your system.