Image: Valve
Steam has a lot of problems, but it’s widely considered the best PC gaming store and platform. But being number one makes you a target, and one of those problems appears to be a growing number of malware attacks that use Steam as a delivery vector. The latest was spotted in a freebie game…but not before it allegedly managed to steal a small fortune in cryptocurrency.
The game is BlockBlasters, and I’m linking to SteamDB because it’s been vanished from the official store just a couple of months after being published, despite reportedly being verified. The free-to-play 2D game allegedly contained a trojan with a “cryptodrainer” program in a post-launch update that managed to seek out, find, and steal approximately $150,000 from hundreds of individual Steam users. This includes one streamer who reportedly lost over $30,000 while raising funds for their cancer treatment.
According to BleepingComputer, security researchers identified BlockBlasters as malware that seeks out and steals Steam login information along with other info. This was apparently used to find associated cryptocurrency wallet accounts and drain them. The operators seem to have targeted streamers and Twitter users specifically known to be invested in cryptocurrency with a spearphishing campaign. Reporters apparently have a US-based suspect thanks to leaked Telegram information, but there have been no arrests.
Valve has not commented on the investigation. This is the fourth high-profile example of malware making its way onto Steam and being downloaded by the general public in 2025, following similar incidents in July, March, and February.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he’s the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael’s previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he’s covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he’s always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.
Image: Valve
Steam has a lot of problems, but it’s widely considered the best PC gaming store and platform. But being number one makes you a target, and one of those problems appears to be a growing number of malware attacks that use Steam as a delivery vector. The latest was spotted in a freebie game…but not before it allegedly managed to steal a small fortune in cryptocurrency.
The game is BlockBlasters, and I’m linking to SteamDB because it’s been vanished from the official store just a couple of months after being published, despite reportedly being verified. The free-to-play 2D game allegedly contained a trojan with a “cryptodrainer” program in a post-launch update that managed to seek out, find, and steal approximately $150,000 from hundreds of individual Steam users. This includes one streamer who reportedly lost over $30,000 while raising funds for their cancer treatment.
According to BleepingComputer, security researchers identified BlockBlasters as malware that seeks out and steals Steam login information along with other info. This was apparently used to find associated cryptocurrency wallet accounts and drain them. The operators seem to have targeted streamers and Twitter users specifically known to be invested in cryptocurrency with a spearphishing campaign. Reporters apparently have a US-based suspect thanks to leaked Telegram information, but there have been no arrests.
Valve has not commented on the investigation. This is the fourth high-profile example of malware making its way onto Steam and being downloaded by the general public in 2025, following similar incidents in July, March, and February.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he’s the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop “battlestation” in his off hours. Michael’s previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he’s covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he’s always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.
