Pirated Games Drop Malware That Beats Defender and Adblockers

 Threat actors are booby-trapping pirated PC games with advanced loaders that bypass Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, slip past common antivirus engines, and even defeat popular ad blockers—turning “free” repacks into high-fidelity malware delivery kits aimed squarely at gamers.gbhackers+1

What’s new

• Campaign vector: Well-known piracy hubs (e.g., repack/torrent link farms) funnel users through multilayer redirect chains to MEGA and similar file hosts, delivering archives that embed a modular loader (notably HijackLoader) rather than the promised game files. These chains frequently evade SmartScreen reputation checks and uBlock-style filters by abusing trusted intermediaries.cybersecuritynews+1

• SmartScreen/adblock evasion: Links appear “clean” until late-stage hops, where payloads are hosted on legitimate file-sharing domains; this reduces SmartScreen reputation hits and sidesteps adblock lists tuned for obvious malvertising endpoints.learn.microsoft+1

How the infection works

• Redirect choreography: Seemingly safe “Download” buttons bounce through short-link and cloaked domains (e.g., zovo.ink, downf.lol) to a final MEGA ZIP—adblockers often allow the flow because the end host is reputable.cybersecuritynews

• Oversized decoys: Archives drop bloated DLLs (600–700MB+) to defeat automated sandboxes and file scanners with size caps, while the loader unpacks in-memory stealer/RAT payloads.forbes+1

• Post-exploit payloads: HijackLoader then fetches commodity malware families (e.g., RedLine, Lumma, RATs), targeting passwords, cookies, crypto wallets, and game platform tokens, or establishing remote control for further monetization.mcafee+1

Why SmartScreen and AVs miss it

• Reputation games: Attackers lean on “gray” infrastructure and staging on reputable file hosts, so file reputation and URL blocklists don’t immediately flag them; SmartScreen focuses on known-bad or low-rep binaries at download/run-time.learn.microsoft

• Living-off-the-land: Execution chains use LOLBins (e.g., mshta, PowerShell) and clipboard/script tricks (fake CAPTCHAs) to bootstrap payloads, minimizing obvious signatures and evading static AV heuristics.mcafee

Evidence and reporting

• Research recaps detail the exact redirect domains, MEGA hosting, oversized DLLs, and HijackLoader’s anti-analysis modules used in the current wave targeting Dodi-style repack seekers. Reporters highlight infections occurring despite uBlock Origin being active, debunking “adblock = safe” myths on piracy forums.forbes+1

• Defender SmartScreen scope: Microsoft’s documentation clarifies SmartScreen’s reputation-based protections and limits; it does not cover internal shares and can be sidestepped by staged delivery and signed/less-known binaries on reputable domains.learn.microsoft+1

Practical protections for gamers

• Don’t download cracked games or “repack” installers—period. Treat any pirated site “safety” claims as false. One run can expose passwords, wallets, and accounts.cybersecuritynews+1

• Harden the endpoint

  • Keep Windows, browsers, and security tools updated; enable SmartScreen in Edge and system-wide; do not disable it to run “unknown” installers.learn.microsoft

  • Use behavior-based EDR or reputable AV with web protection and script-control; block LOLBins (mshta, wscript) for non-admins.mcafee

• Browser hygiene

  • Even with adblockers, avoid third-party download managers, short-links, and “verification” pages; never paste PowerShell/Command snippets copied from CAPTCHAs or prompts.mcafee

• Account safety

  • Switch to passkeys/MFA on Steam/Epic/Ubisoft and email; rotate passwords if any pirated downloads were run; scan for info-stealers and check for unusual logins.forbes

For enterprises 

• Block piracy/repack domains and file-hosting links known in the current campaigns at DNS/secure web gateways; tune detections for large DLL drops and mshta/PowerShell spawning from downloads.cybersecuritynews+1

• User policy: Prohibit gaming installers on corporate or hybrid devices; monitor for info-stealer beacons and sudden credential reuse across SaaS.forbes

Key takeaways

• “Free game” traps now use professional-grade delivery chains—trusted hosts, bloated anti-sandbox files, LOLBins—to bypass SmartScreen, AVs, and adblockers. Safety myths from piracy forums are dangerous. If the game isn’t from an official store, assume it’s bait.cybersecuritynews+1

Blogger fields

• Title: Pirated Games Drop Malware That Beats Defender and Adblockersforbes+1

• Slug: pirated-games-malware-defender-smartscreen-bypass-hijackloadercybersecuritynews

• Labels: pirated games, malware, Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, adblock bypass, HijackLoader, MEGA hosting, LOLBins, gamers, Lumma/RedLinemcafee+1

• Search description: Threat actors weaponize pirated games to deliver HijackLoader via MEGA, bypassing SmartScreen, antivirus, and adblockers. Gamers are prime targets—here’s how to stay safe.learn.microsoft+1

• Featured image alt: A “free game download” page with multiple redirects leading to a MEGA ZIP, while Defender and adblock shields are bypassed.cybersecuritynews

Sources

• Campaign details: redirect domains, MEGA hosting, oversized DLLs, HijackLoader chain in pirated game sites.gbhackers+1

• Defender SmartScreen scope and limits (reputation-based, web/download focus).learn.microsoft+1

• Analysis of fake CAPTCHA/clipboard-PowerShell and mshta LOLBin abuse leading to Lumma Stealer.mcafee

• Consumer warning with test evidence that infections occurred even with uBlock Origin active; overview of secondary payload families.forbes

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