This is stating the obvious that you shouldn’t be downloading crack tools for multiplayer games like Valorant.
But if you somehow found what’s purported to be crack tools for Valorant over on reputable codebase repository site GitHub, don’t. It’s likely malware.
Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky through their Kaspersky Global Research & Analysis Team (GReAT) have found malware hidden in hundreds of these repositories on GitHub.
Kaspersky dub these as GitVenom, where the code repositories look like legitimate projects written in different programming languages (includes Python, JavaScript, C, C++ and C#), though likely code generated with AI.
When the codes from GitVenom are executed, instead of installing a hack tool to give you an unfair advantage that will get you the banhammer if discovered (as the GitHub page suggests), it instead will launch malware.
One of which is a stealer that collects passwords, bank account info, credentials saved, cryptocurrency wallet data and browsing history. And all of that info will be packed into a .7z file to be uploaded back to the attackers via Telegram.
Other malware of the GitVenom variety has also been spotted to even add remote administration tools, allowing the attacker full access to your infected device.
GitVenom has been targeting gamers as well as cryptocurrency investors, with infected users having been found in Brazil, Turkiye and Russia, Kaspersky reports.
At least $485,000 USD worth of Bitcoins (5 Bitcoin, at the time of Kaspersky’s investigation on this) has been lost through GitVenom.
This should be a warning that not everything on GitHub is safe, so only download and run projects there if you really know coding or if vetted by trusted people.
But also, don’t go and try downloading hacks for multiplayer game. The risks are not just getting your account banned, but you’ll likely be scammed and have your sensitive data in the hands of bad actors which may cause further problems including financial loss.
Cheaters never prosper. If you got GitVenommed for trying to cheat in a multiplayer game, that’s on you.