Some free Steam PC games are being exploited for cryptocurrency mining and spyware installation.
Some free Steam PC games are being exploited for cryptocurrency mining and spyware installation.
I have seen a few reviews recently of some Chinese games getting released by smaller companies on Steam and receiving negative reviewers for 'acting as a miner' or installing questionable software. Some examples from different games below: I don't want to name and shame the games, just in-case it isn't true + don't actually care too much about these specific games anyway. However... 1.) What are the chances that devs are really implementing 'mining' into games? 2.) What are the chances that devs are really implementing Spyware used for illicit purposes in games? 3.) Surely Valve wouldn't allow dodgy operations like this to be listed on their platform. If the above is true, why haven't they removed the games?
That’s completely unreasonable. If a game includes spyware, you should clearly state which one you’re using so others don’t install it unintentionally.
100% sure about the games you mentioned, though I’m not sure if they’re real. There are definitely titles with built-in miners. 2. Confirmed earlier. 3. Absolutely. Valve doesn’t enforce rules unless there’s a flood of abuse reports. They only step in when people start complaining. Only when this trend gains traction and many discuss it will they act.
there’s limited effort put forward, and there seems to be little focus on various tasks. malware and questionable software have lingered, especially with major publishers of "AAA" games. DRM systems that can damage or mimic malware exist, and piracy has some connection to removed protections. It’s unlikely anti-cheat will monitor browsers when you enter passwords or financial info. Firmware that operates so thoroughly it should be transparent to users is common, like the past Razor mouse with its problematic software. I wish we had clearer permissions and deeper access controls—not just intrusive pop-ups that grant excessive privileges. The problems people faced with Valorant at launch were concerning, and the spam risks are undermining trust in platforms. This isn’t as significant a concern as before, yet it’s fueling skepticism about installing random content that looks like it’s not a serious game.
It doesn't necessarily mean what someone says is true. Tencent isn't automatically malware, and ignoring this issue from gamers doesn't seem right. Without mentioning specific games, the discussion feels unnecessary. Even if Steam takes action, they might be too slow unless it becomes a bigger problem. Regulations exist, but distributing malware still raises concerns.
Steam and valve have often struggled with delays on dead projects. There’s limited control over things, as seen with platforms like Steam and Google App Store compared to Apple’s ecosystem. Even when guidelines exist, enforcing them can be challenging.
While there are regulations against it, there's never been any serious punishment for companies negligently distributing malware. Unless they're actually going to get punished corporations aren't going to go too far out of their way to make sure everything on their platform is totally safe. They'll do a cursory check and if nothing explodes then up it goes on the store.