Share
Olugbemi. Adeyinka Ogunleye
11 months ago
Overview
Gen Zs favourite games used as bait in over 19 million attempted cyberattacks
From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, Kaspersky detected over 19 million attempts to download malicious or unwanted files disguised as popular Gen Z games. With GTA, Minecraft and Call of Duty among the most exploited, it’s clear that cybercriminals are actively following gaming trends to reach their targets. To help players stay safe, Kaspersky has launched “Case 404” — an interactive cybersecurity game that teaches Gen Z how to recognise threats and protect their digital worlds while doing what they love: playing.
Gen Z plays more than any other generation — and not just more, but differently. They outpace Millennials and Gen X in gaming-related spending, and, instead of sticking to a few favourites, Gen Z jumps between numerous titles, chasing viral trends and new experiences. Yet this same spontaneity and openness also make them vulnerable, with cybercriminals exploiting the habits and trust of these players across the platforms. For instance, throughout the reported period, more than 400,000 users worldwide were affected.
As part of the new report, Kaspersky experts conducted an in-depth analysis using 20 of the most popular game titles among Gen Z — from GTA, NBA and FIFA to The Sims and Genshin Impact — as search keywords. The study covered the period from Q2 2024 to Q1 2025, with March 2025 standing out as the peak month, recording 1,842,370 attempted attacks.
Despite GTA V being released over a decade ago, the Grand Theft Auto franchise remains one of the most exploited, due to its open-world modding capabilities and thriving online community. In total, Kaspersky detected 4,456,499 attack attempts involving files disguised as GTA franchise-related content. With the highly anticipated release of GTA VI expected in 2026, experts predict a potential spike in such attacks, as cybercriminals may exploit the hype by distributing fake installers, early access offers or beta invites.
