Overview
- Valve removed Block Blasters after reports that the free title deployed malware to siphon crypto wallets and other data from users.
- The case drew wide attention when Latvian streamer Raivo Plavnieks (RastalandTV) lost about $32,000 in donations during a live fundraiser for his cancer treatment.
- Open‑source sleuthing traced exfiltrated data to a Telegram channel and publicly linked the operation to an Argentine influencer living in Miami, who denies any involvement and says his images may have been misused.
- TN reports a late‑August patch (Build 19799326) allegedly introduced the malware, with G DATA MXDR flagging malicious files; researcher ZachXBT estimated at least 261 compromised Steam accounts and roughly $150,000 stolen, while VXUnderground cited 478 victims.
- The game spent over a month on Steam with more than 200 apparently fake positive reviews, renewing scrutiny of the platform’s moderation and prompting calls to keep significant crypto in offline wallets.