Activision, the renowned video game publisher, faced a significant setback as it was forced to take the servers of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II offline due to a self-propagating worm infecting players on the PC platform.
Following the game’s revival, players quickly noticed unusual behavior and raised concerns on the Steam discussion page about a self-spreading worm virus affecting the PC version of the game. The situation escalated as discussions arose around the malware’s nature and existence on VirusTotal’s repository, prompting Activision to temporarily suspend the game’s servers to assess the severity of the issue.
In-depth analysis of the malware revealed that hackers were intentionally infecting players with a worm that could automatically spread within online lobbies. The motives behind the hackers‘ distribution of this malicious software remain under investigation.
The issue further intensified when the company reported over 14,000 account bans for cheating and hacking in both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Warzone, indicating a simultaneous battle against cheat developers and hackers.
As the self-spreading worm posed a serious threat to the integrity of the game and its player base, Activision acted swiftly to address the situation. The company’s decision to take down the game’s servers demonstrated their commitment to safeguarding players from potential security risks.
In addition, researchers have been diligently studying the malware to understand its origins and potential implications for the gaming community.
