After years of anticipation, the trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 finally emerged online yesterday.
Millions of eager gamers flocked to watch the trailer, which quickly set the record for the most YouTube views in 24 hours after racking up nearly 100 million hits.
Now, it seems cybercriminals have jumped on the bandwagon, and are targeting unsuspecting gamers with fake download links.
Worryingly, clicking on these links can flood your device with malware capable of tracking you or stealing your personal data.
Here’s everything you need to know – including how to spot the fake download links.
After years of anticipation, the trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 finally emerged online yesterday. Millions of eager gamers flocked to watch the trailer, which quickly set the record for the most YouTube views in 24 hours after racking up nearly 100 million hits
Cybercriminals have jumped on the bandwagon, and are targeting unsuspecting gamers with fake download links (stock image)
‘GTA VI’ will be released in 2025 and is set in fictional Vice City – reminiscent of Miami that was last seen in the hit franchise’s 2006 instalment.
It also appears to feature the first playable female character in the series.
With physical sales of PC and console games falling rapidly, digital downloads now dominate the market.
And experts at NordVPN warn that bad actors are trying to tempt fans with fake download links, promising a ‘free’, ‘leaked’, or ‘trial’ version of the game, ahead of its release in 2025.
According to Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN, similar attempts have been identified around the release of other popular games like Hogwarts Legacy or The Last of Us.
‘The gaming community has been waiting for Grand Theft Auto 6 for a decade now, so it is only natural that fans will try to get at least a trial version as soon as possible,’ Mr Briedis said.
‘Unfortunately, curiosity and impatience open new opportunities for cybercriminals.
‘Even though GTA 6 is still under development, and creators promise to release it in 2025, the internet is full of links promising the possibility to download the game.’
Worryingly, once clicked, these links can infect your device with some form of walware within seconds.
‘Usually, these types of malware can be used to track you or steal personal data, banking credentials, or your identity,’ Mr Briedis said.
‘These malicious files can hide on a computer for a long time and do their job without visible harm.’
To protect yourself from fake GTA 6 scams, the experts advise avoiding links promising free or early-bird versions of the game before the official release.
‘Only download games from official sites, and use software like Threat Protection,’ they added.
