TECHNOLOGY
Malware that steals credentials, credit card details abuse biggest new games
September 15, 2022 7:19 p.m.
In the first half of 2022, Kaspersky researchers detected increased activity of cybercriminals abusing gamers. The number of users attacked by malicious software, which gathers sensitive data and spreads under the guise of some of the most popular gaming titles, has increased by 13% compared to the first half of 2021.
In attempts to download new games from untrustworthy resources for free, players actually received malicious software, losing their gaming accounts and even money. These and other findings are part of the gaming-related threats report issued by Kaspersky.
To assess the current landscape in gaming risks, Kaspersky experts observed the most popular PC and mobile games-related threats. Overall, between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022, Kaspersky security solutions detected more than 384,000 users affected by almost 92,000 malicious or unwanted unique files that mimicked 28 games or series of games.
In addition to the large number of downloaders that are able to install other unwanted programs, and adware, Kaspersky researchers even detected Trojan-Spies – a category of spyware capable of tracking any data entered on the keyboard and taking screenshots.
The research also revealed a growth in attacks made with malicious software that steals sensitive data from infected devices. It included Trojan-PSW, which gathers victims’ credentials, Trojan-Banker, that steals payment data, and Trojan-GameThief, which collects login information for gaming accounts.
From July 1st, 2021 to June 30th, 2022 Kaspersky security solutions detected a total of 3,705 unique files distributing this malicious software under the guise of popular games or series of games. In the first half of 2022, Kaspersky researchers observed a 13 percent increase in the number of users attacked with it in comparison to the first half of 2021. The number of such unique files used to infect users also increased in the first half of 2022 by nearly a quarter, compared to the same period in 2021: 1,868 and 1,530 files, respectively.
Most often, users receive malicious files when they try to download games not from official sites, but from third-party webpages. This is especially true if a new game is quite expensive and the player wants to save money by finding a copy for free on untrustworthy sites. However, they will lose much more than if they had bought a legitimate version. For example, many malicious files steal login information for gaming accounts, banking details and even crypto wallet data by infecting devices.
Attackers purposely seek to spread threats under the guise of games that either have a huge captive audience or that have only recently been released and are constantly on gamers’ radars. Well-known games such as Roblox, FIFA or Minecraft, for example, as well as the new parts of big series of games, released during the last year – Elden Ring, Halo, and Resident Evil – were actively abused by attackers who spread RedLine malware under their guise.
RedLine is password-stealing software, which extracts sensitive data from the victim’s device such as passwords, saved bank card details, cryptocurrency wallets, and credentials for VPN services.
From July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 Kaspersky solutions detected 2,362 unique users attacked with RedLine, spread under the guise of popular games, which makes it the most active threat family for the period given. Redline is usually sold for a very low price on various hacker forums, therefore, it has huge popularity among cybercriminals.
In addition to spreading malicious files, attackers continue to actively create and spread new phishing pages in the gaming sphere. For the first time Kaspersky experts discovered a new scheme of phishers attacking gamers. Mimicking the whole interface of in-game stores for CS:GO, PUBG and Warface, scammers create fraudulent pages, offering potential victims a decent arsenal of various weapons and artifacts for free.
To receive the gift, players need to enter login data for their social network accounts, such as Facebook or Twitter. After taking over accounts, attackers are likely to search through personal messages for card details, or ask various friends of the victim for money, preying on their trust and carelessness.
Scammers create fake in-game store mimicking the PUBG mobile interface. The scheme encourages users to log in using their social media credentials
“During the pandemic the gaming industry was greatly boosted, increasing the number of gaming fans several times over. As we can see, cybercriminals are actively abusing this trend, creating more and more new schemes and tools to attack players and steal their credit card data and even game accounts, which can contain expensive skins that can later be sold. We expect to see new types of attacks on gamers in the next year. For example, strikes on Esports, which are now gaining huge popularity around the world. That’s why it’s so important to always be protected, so you don’t lose your money, credentials, and gaming account,” comments Anton V. Ivanov, senior security researcher at Kaspersky.
Read about other gaming-related threats in 2022 in the full report on Securelist.
To stay safe while gaming, Kaspersky recommends:
- It is safer to download your games from official stores like Steam, Apple App Store, Google Play or Amazon Appstore only. Games from these markets are not 100 % secure, but they at least are checked by store representatives and there is some kind of screening system: not every app can get into these stores.
- If you wish to buy a game that is not available through major stores, purchase them from the official website only. Double-check the URL of the website and make sure it is authentic.
- Beware of phishing campaigns and unfamiliar gamers. Do not open links received by email or in a game chat unless you trust the sender. Do not open files you get from strangers.
- Do not download pirated software or any other illegal content, even if you are redirected to it from a legitimate website.
- A strong, reliable security solution will be a great help to you, especially if it will not slow down your computer while you are playing, but at the same time, it will protect you from all possible cyberthreats. For example, Kaspersky Total Security works smoothly with Steam and other gaming services.
- Use a robust security solution to protect yourself from malicious software and its activity on mobile devices, such as Kaspersky Internet Security for Android.
TECHNOLOGY
Rest easy with the Index Sleep Monitor smart sleep band from Garmin
11:09 a.m. August 29, 2025
GARMIN has announced the Index™ Sleep Monitor, an ultra-comfortable and lightweight smart sleep band that tracks sleep for a more comprehensive view of overall fitness and recovery.
Featuring up to 7 nights of battery life with continuous Pulse Ox tracking, the Index Sleep Monitor is worn on the upper arm and tracks sleep stages, heart rate variability (HRV) status, breathing variations, skin temperature and more to calculate a sleep score for users and provide valuable insights about their health.
After a night of sleep, the data seamlessly syncs to the Garmin Connect™ smartphone app and can be combined with metrics from a compatible Garmin smartwatch to fill in gaps in data for users who don’t wear their watch at night or are looking to better understand how well they recovered.
“We are thrilled to add the Index Sleep Monitor to our suite of innovative health and wellness products. Wearing this smart sleep band every night can provide in-depth sleep insights and a more complete picture of fitness and recovery so users can wake up ready to seize the day.” — Susan Lyman, Garmin Vice President of Consumer Sales and Marketing
Rest and recover
Throughout the night, the Index Sleep Monitor tracks the following sleep and recovery metrics, which can then be viewed on the Garmin Connect app:
● Sleep score: Every morning, receive a personalized score (0-100) for last night’s sleep based on sleep duration, stress, sleep stages and more.
● Sleep stages: View light, deep and REM sleep stages and when they occur during the night.
● HRV status: See the previous night’s average HRV and status (balanced, unbalanced, low or poor). After several nights of wear, the smart sleep band will establish a personal baseline to help provide a better understanding of recovery and overall wellness.
● Pulse Ox: Track blood oxygen saturation during sleep1.
● Breathing variations: Used in conjunction with Pulse Ox, view and better understand shifts in breathing patterns while sleeping.1
● Respiration: View respiration rates throughout the night.
● Skin temperature: Track skin temperature changes, which can be related to recent activity, sleep environment, potential illness and more.
● Women’s health tracking: Using skin temperature, women can get more insights into their menstrual cycle, including improved period predictions and past ovulation estimates2. Women can also track their menstrual cycle or pregnancy and get exercise and nutrition education in the Garmin Connect app.
● Body BatteryTM energy monitoring: View energy levels to see if the body is charged or needs more rest. Users who wear a compatible smartwatch while awake can get a more complete picture of their energy levels—day and night.
● Stress tracking: See if last night’s sleep was calm, balanced or stressful.
When it’s time to wake up, the smart wake alarm feature looks at lighter sleep stages during a pre-selected window of time to gently wake users with a light vibration so they feel more refreshed.
Available in two sizes (S-M and L-XL), the Index Sleep Monitor is easy to clean; just remove the module and toss the band into the washing machine on the gentle cycle.
It is for P10,290.00 and available via official Garmin Stores online in Kinetic, Shopee, and Lazada and in all Garmin Brand Stores and Garmin Specialty Stores.
For more information, visit https://ph.garmin.com/.
TECHNOLOGY
Time to make your moment: OPPO Reno14 Series 5G now available for pre-order
9:11 p.m. August 10, 2025
OPPO’s latest smartphone series is now available for pre-order in the Philippines—and it’s built for those who want to turn everyday moments into stories worth sharing.
The OPPO Reno14 Series 5G brings together AI-powered photography, vivid 4K video, sleek design, and powerful performance, all in one beautifully crafted device. Whether you’re creating content, diving into your favorite game, or simply making your moment, the OPPO Reno14 Series 5G makes it effortless to discover and explore—without compromise.
Your Studio, In Your Pocket
Capture yourself at your best with AI Portrait capabilities that naturally refine lighting, angles, and facial details—no filters or editing apps needed. Want to adjust after the shot? Features like AI Recompose and AI Perfect Shot help you fix framing, expressions, and more—all within the native camera.
Even in low light, the Ultra-Clear Low-Light Camera System and AI Flash Photography keep your shots vivid and full of life—perfect for nights out, concerts, and candle-lit dinners.
Powered by next-gen chipsets, MediaTek Dimensity 8450 for OPPO Reno14 Pro 5G, Dimensity 8350 for OPPO Reno14 5G, and Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 for OPPO Reno14 F 5G, you can count on a fluid experience whether you’re gaming, streaming, or multitasking.
Smart features like AI HyperBoost 2.0 and AI LinkBoost 3.0 optimize gameplay, prevent lag, and keep your connection smooth wherever you are.
Designed to be seen
The Iridescent Mermaid Design of the OPPO Reno14 Series 5G is more than a color, it’s a statement. Inspired by the shimmer of light underwater, the finish is paired with Velvet Glass and aerospace-grade aluminum for a look and feel that’s luxurious, durable, and uniquely OPPO.
TECHNOLOGY
Concentrix Philippines releases iX Hero
9:21 p.m. July 30, 2025
Concentrix Corporation, a global technology and services leader that’s also the Philippines’ largest private employer, today announced the newest release of iX Hero: the company’s agentic AI-powered application that works together with a human in the loop to supercharge the way customer experience is delivered.
Joining the launch of iX Hero in the Philippines were Concentrix Chief Product Officer Ryan Peterson; Global Vice President, Product Management, Craig Cotton; and Vice President, Product and Domain Leader, Ratna Puri, together with Concentrix Philippines Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer Amit Jagga, as well as Vice President for Transformation and Delivery Shared Services Larah Sta. Maria. The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) represented by Assistant Secretary Migui Planas was also present for the event, which included a demo of the application and other AI-driven products in the Concentrix Intelligent Experience (iX) suite.
iX Hero supercharges advisor performance through multiple AI-driven features: from automatic conversation transcription and knowledge apps that find and surface ready-to-use answers to customer questions, to noise cancellation that cuts out distracting background noise and speech harmonization that helps every word during a conversation shine through, all the way to generating transaction summaries and insights that offer coaching tips for improvement – all in one place, all in real-time. It’s akin to giving the advisors superpowers that lead to faster onboarding, better performance, and smarter conversations, so they can focus on what matters most: the customers.
According to Concentrix Chief Product Officer Ryan Peterson, “iX Hero is the culmination of decades of Concentrix expertise in AI and automation, built on insights and fine-tuned from millions of interactions. As a company that supports over 2,000 of the world’s leading brands, we know what it takes for AI to complement human ingenuity because we’ve developed the products that have achieved concrete outcomes and growth for our people, clients and business.”
Enabling Job Access and Inclusivity
iX Hero’s impact to the workforce journey starts at the very beginning – helping job applicants get hired. One of iX Hero’s features called Harmony, fine-tunes speech patterns for clearer pronunciation, making sure every word lands perfectly while keeping voices natural and authentic, and has been piloted in the language assessment part of Recruiting in Concentrix Philippines. In the integrated business solutions industry where clear communication is essential, language skills tests are the first part of the recruiting process. During its pilot in the country prior to the launch, iX Hero’s Harmony enabled applicants’ speech to be clear and easy to understand while retaining their authentic voice, enabling passing scores for those who would otherwise not be able to move on to the next stages of the recruiting process due to language proficiency challenges on speech. As iX Hero is also deployed in the advisor workspace once they are hired, the real-time support continues, leading to superior performance and resulting in game-changing customer experiences.
According to Concentrix Philippines EVP and Chief Business Officer Amit Jagga, “Having the Harmony feature in iX Hero is a perfect example of how AI helps provide access to employment and greater job inclusivity for many Filipinos, in addition to upskilling. More than just a tech product launch, iX Hero represents our commitment to harnessing AI for good and keeping humans at the heart of digital transformation.”
According to DICT Assistant Secretary Planas, “In the DICT we have a slogan that says ‘Walang Iwanan sa Digital Bayanihan’, meaning “no one left behind,” which underscores the government’s mission for every Filipino to have access to technology, connectivity and with it, future-ready jobs. It is very encouraging to have private sector partners like Concentrix who contribute positively to this mission, in a very tangible way, through AI-powered products like iX Hero that can scale in use throughout the country, not just where the organization operates but also as it extends to Concentrix clients and partners who will use it as a solution and tool for their own workforce.”
Real-world results from iX Hero include 20% efficiency gains from quicker adaptation and skill acquisition in a supportive learning environment for sustained professional growth, 22% reduction in average call handling times, 13.5% increase in customer satisfaction and 30% improved communication from speech clarity, language proficiency and non-verbal skills. iX Hero received the TMC Generative AI Product of the Year Award and Concentrix’s iX Product Suite has already received over 20 industry awards globally.
For more information, meet iX Hero on the company website.
Rest easy with the Index Sleep Monitor smart sleep band from Garmin
DITO delivers superior network performance, turning digital aspirations into possibilities
Pay with GCash and turn daily payments into big wins
