authenticity Archives

Tech Optimizer

May 29, 2025

A Trojan-Downloading Website Is Imitating a Popular Antivirus Website

Hackers are increasingly using sophisticated techniques to entice users into downloading malware, with many individuals still falling victim to basic social engineering tactics. A counterfeit website mimicking the legitimate antivirus program Bitdefender has been created, which could mislead users. This spoofed site hosts a bundled executable named StoreInstaller.exe that contains malware configurations linked to VenomRAT, capable of remote access, credential theft, keylogging, and data exfiltration. The counterfeit site closely resembles the legitimate one, making it difficult for untrained users to distinguish between them. Users are advised to download antivirus software only from reputable sources and to verify the authenticity of the website before proceeding.

AppWizard

May 28, 2025

Japanese Government Releases Free ‘Minecraft’ Map

The Japanese government has released a free Minecraft map replicating the G-Cans underground flood facility, developed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The G-Cans, completed in 2006, is the largest underground flood diversion system in the world, designed to manage overflow from Tokyo's waterways during heavy rainfall. The Minecraft map accurately reflects the facility's design, including five large concrete silos and a network of tunnels spanning 6.4 kilometers. It was created using actual blueprints to provide a realistic experience. The G-Cans features a water tank that is 83 feet high and can discharge up to 200 metric tons of water into the Edo River every second. The map is available on the Edogawa River Office homepage.

Tech Optimizer

May 28, 2025

Hackers Mimic Popular Antivirus Site to Deliver VenomRAT & Steal Finance Data

Cybercriminals are executing a sophisticated malware campaign through a counterfeit Bitdefender antivirus website, specifically the domain “bitdefender-download[.]co,” which mimics the legitimate site. This fraudulent site distributes three types of malware: VenomRAT, StormKitty, and SilentTrinity, aimed at stealing financial data and maintaining persistent access to victims’ computers. When users click the “Download For Windows” button, they inadvertently download a ZIP file containing these malicious programs. VenomRAT acts as a remote access tool, allowing attackers to steal files, cryptocurrency wallets, and browser data, including credit card information. StormKitty quickly harvests sensitive credentials, while SilentTrinity provides stealthy long-term access for further exploitation. The fake Bitdefender site is linked to other malicious domains impersonating banks, indicating a coordinated phishing operation. The attackers utilize the same command and control infrastructure, with the IP address 67.217.228.160:4449 identified as a connection point. Bitdefender is working to take down the fraudulent site, and Google Chrome has begun flagging the link as malicious. Security experts recommend verifying website authenticity and downloading software only from official sources.

Winsage

May 27, 2025

Microsoft Windows Warning—Do Not Install These Apps On Your PC

A recent advisory warns Microsoft users about malicious websites that install harmful applications on Windows PCs. Security researchers at DomainTools have identified a scheme where attackers create counterfeit websites resembling popular brands to trick users into downloading malware-laden applications. These applications deploy three types of malware: VenomRAT, StormKitty, and SilentTrinity, which can steal passwords and digital wallet information, and allow attackers to maintain control over compromised systems. The counterfeit sites impersonate well-known brands, including Bitdefender and various banks, highlighting the need for users to follow Microsoft's guidance on transitioning from passwords to passkeys. The attacks utilize open-source components, making them more efficient and adaptable. Users are advised to download software only from official websites, verify website addresses, and be cautious when entering credentials.

AppWizard

May 26, 2025

A Roblox farming game made by a teenager ‘in like three days’ had 8.9 million players online at the same time—Steam peaked at 11.5 million across all games on the same day

In 2025, the Roblox game "Grow a Garden" experienced a peak of nearly 9 million concurrent players, surpassing the previous record held by Player Unknown's Battlegrounds on Steam by almost threefold. The game reached a peak of 5 million concurrent users just a weekend prior to this achievement. It was developed by a teenage creator in three days and has gained significant popularity, with a player count that surpassed the population of New York City. Despite initial skepticism about player counts, investigations confirmed the game's genuine popularity, driven by strong user retention and community engagement. A Roblox spokesperson noted that the growth is attributed to an authentic community rather than artificial inflation.

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

Vietnam acts to block messaging app Telegram

Vietnam's technology ministry has instructed telecommunication service providers to block the messaging app Telegram due to its lack of cooperation in combating criminal activities among users. This directive, issued on May 21, mandates that service providers implement the block and report their actions by June 2. Findings from the cyber-security department indicated that 68% of the 9,600 Telegram channels and groups in Vietnam were violating laws, including serious offenses like fraud, drug trafficking, and suspected terrorism activities. A representative from the ministry confirmed the document's authenticity, citing Telegram's failure to provide user data during criminal investigations. As of the latest update, Telegram remained accessible in Vietnam despite the directive.

AppWizard

May 23, 2025

New on Max in June 2025: Gilded Age Season 3, Looney Tunes, and Minecraft Movie

Max will release several new titles in June 2025, including: - June 1: The documentary series The Mortician, which explores the unethical practices of a family-owned funeral home in the 1980s. - June 22: The third season of The Gilded Age, focusing on the social and economic upheaval of the American Gilded Age. - June 28: The documentary My Mom Jayne, featuring Mariska Hargitay's exploration of her relationship with her late mother, actress Jayne Mansfield. - Streaming debuts of A Minecraft Movie and The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (release dates to be announced). Additional programming includes various seasons of shows and films scheduled throughout the month.

Tech Optimizer

May 20, 2025

The ol’ antivirus virus scam | Scam of the Week

A reader received a fraudulent email that appeared to be from Norton, claiming they had a subscription for a service they never signed up for. The email included a reminder about an automatic renewal for a Norton Ultimate Plus plan and provided a phone number that could lead to scams. EECU, a local credit union, warned its members about this scam and advised them to verify the authenticity of such invoices with their bank to prevent identity theft.

AppWizard

May 18, 2025

EA is reportedly cracking down on a Sims 4 mod. What it changes has fans furious

The Sims 4, developed by Electronic Arts, has maintained its popularity for over ten years, supported by a dedicated fan base and compatibility with modern hardware. The game recently released the Businesses & Hobbies Expansion Pack in March, allowing players to start their own small businesses. The community has also created numerous fan-made mods, some of which enhance gameplay, while others have sparked controversy, such as a mod aimed at removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) elements. This led to backlash and accusations of censorship when EA requested the mod's removal. Additionally, the conversation about diversity in video games has grown, with criticism directed at Sweet Baby Inc., a consulting firm, for its influence on narrative choices in games like Alan Wake 2 and God of War Ragnarok, resulting in organized boycotts against games associated with the firm.

AppWizard

May 15, 2025

Valve refutes reports of massive Steam hack

Valve addressed concerns about alleged breaches of user data, refuting claims of a significant hack involving Steam account information. The company clarified that reports of leaked two-factor authentication text messages do not indicate any compromise of its internal systems. The source of the leak is under investigation, and it involved older text messages containing one-time codes valid for 15 minutes, without linking phone numbers to Steam accounts or exposing sensitive information like passwords or payment details. Valve emphasized that old text messages cannot compromise account security and that attempts to change account details via SMS will trigger additional confirmation steps. Allegations from Underdark.ai about a dataset containing over 89 million Steam user records are questioned due to the low asking price for the data.