Computer hackers have targetedGrand
Theft Auto IVto spread destructive viruses
across the web.
The cybercriminals are tempting fans by illegally offering free
downloads for bogus versions of the hit game for their PCs.
John Safa, chief technical officer of software security company
DriveSentry, said, "People are exploiting the popularity of Grand
Theft Auto IV in a way that could bring mayhem to the internet.
"The only thing that many gamers can think of at the moment is
Grand Theft Auto IV, and hackers are using that interest to try to
generate chaos as quickly as they can."
Enthusiasts are being offered free Grand Theft Auto IV downloads
and plug-ins on
file-sharing networks.
Safa said he had found evidence of Trojans - programs that gain
backdoor access to a user's system to steal personal data - just
two minutes after logging on to the popular Limewire file-sharing
network.
He said: "Hackers are bombarding the internet with viruses on
file-sharing networks.
"While surfing on Limewire, I found a file claiming to offer a
program for the XBOX 360 version of Grand Theft Auto IV that
actually contained malware named Trojan
Downloader.Win32.VB.dck."
"Such computer viruses have the potential to wipe out or steal
sensitive information such as a user's bank details or wipe out
important files. Some of these links were offering free downloads
for the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV even though it is not
available yet," he said.