Hackers Hide XMRig Miner Under BeamNG.drive and Other Simulation Games

According to CNews, researchers uncovered a scheme in which malware disguised as popular simulators (BeamNG.drive, Dyson Sphere Program, etc.) infected PCs with the hidden XMRig miner. Criminals uploaded cracked game builds onto torrent sites, luring downloaders seeking free access. The end result was excessive resource consumption and potential hardware overheating.

Cybersecurity experts note that this Trojan operates stealthily, relying on a user’s CPU power to mine Monero. Heavy utilization can lead to noticeable slowdown and, in some cases, physical damage to cooling systems.

Specialists strongly recommend downloading software only from trusted sources and keeping antivirus tools updated. Meanwhile, scammers focus on high-demand titles, hoping to ensnare a broad range of unsuspecting targets.