Malware, Trojans, and adware aren’t the only dangers lurking on video game hacking sites. Although the temptation is sometimes great to illegally download a game from a torrent, the consequences are simply not worth the risk.
You will also be interested
[EN VIDÉO] Cyber espionage: what are the threats? Interference in elections, theft of industrial data, hacking into military systems… Cyber espionage has taken off in the last two decades.
As long as the gaming community on the Internet manifests its need for games pirated copies ofapps unlicensed and other pirated goodies, hackers will continue to target her with their latest cyberattacks. Every time you visit an illegal site offering free downloads of pirated games, you are exposing your private information, and all the data you have on your device, to cybercrime and the risk of having your devices hacked. Here are some of the most important reasons why gamers should stay away from pirated games.
The risks of game hacking
The question of legality
The main thing to keep in mind before considering downloading pirated or cracked software is that it is illegal. The last thing you want is to trade easy access to a game for jail time. Anti-piracy laws vary by region and can range from fines to long prison sentences. Organizations such as Arcom (Regulation Authority for Audiovisual Communication and digital), are also specifically mandated to enforce the law in force in France.
Even if you are lucky enough to avoid infecting your device with a malwareyou probably won’t get far without encountering one of the most common contemporary anti-piracy measures: an account ban.
In 2016, Pokémon Go developer Niantic Labs began lifelong bans for players who violated the game’s terms of service, including modifying or installing software unofficial.
In 2018, nintendo began to permanently ban users of the Switch to play online if it detects that a game has been installed illegally. Depending on the situation, users could also be permanently banned from the nintendo Network.
Malware and adware can hide in game files
Gamers looking for the easiest ways to get a game often end up downloading pirated games that offer something more than the games themselves.
That extra little surprise can be anything: unexpected apps, malware, adware, spyware, ransomware, all kinds of viruses, etc. Therefore, instead of downloading the game you wanted to play, you may end up with an infected computer and data loss. Recent information has revealed that crypto mining malware circulate via pirated games. So it is better never to give in to the temptation to get games for free. This is a dangerous path that can lead to loss of data and resources.
Where to find free games without risk?
Today it is not difficult to find free games distributed legally. The Epic Game store has made a name for itself in recent years by offering one or more free games every week. These games range from small indie titles to AAA blockbusters. Sites like Itch.io also offer many games for free since they are sharing platforms whose goal is not to sell in priority.
Interested in what you just read?