Gamers Beware: Minecraft Cheats May Hide the New Arcane Stealer Malware

1️⃣ Fake Minecraft cheats on YouTube are hiding Arcane Stealer malware designed to steal passwords, crypto wallets, and personal data.

2️⃣ It spreads through .bat files that silently download more malware, including a crypto miner and the Arcane Stealer Trojan.

3️⃣ Arcane Stealer collects system info, browser data, Discord tokens, app logins, and can even take screenshots or disable security features.

4️⃣ Stay safe: avoid shady downloads, stick to trusted sources, update your system and antivirus, and never run suspicious .bat or .exe files.

No time to read? We’ve got you covered! Listen to the article:

If you’re hunting for Minecraft cheats or mods on YouTube, here’s a heads-up — cybercriminals are out there, ready to steal way more than your game progress. Kaspersky researchers just uncovered a sneaky malware campaign where fake Minecraft cheats are actually hiding a data-stealing threat called Arcane Stealer.

It all starts innocently enough — a YouTube video promising the “ultimate cheat” or “game crack” for Minecraft. The video description drops a link to a password-protected archive with a harmless-looking file named start.bat. Sounds familiar? Yeah, that’s how they trick you.

Once you run that .bat file, it quietly downloads more hidden files — including a cryptocurrency miner and the real star of the show, the Arcane Stealer malware.

🎯 What Does Arcane Stealer Do?

This sneaky malware is designed to collect tons of personal data from your computer. And we’re not talking about just your Minecraft logins. Arcane Stealer can swipe:

• Saved passwords and payment details
• System info like your CPU, memory, OS version
• Your browser data, VPN credentials, and even Discord tokens
• Info from popular apps like Skype, Telegram, Steam, Epic Games, Roblox, Riot, and even crypto wallets like MetaMask, Exodus, and Guarda

It can even take screenshots, grab your Wi-Fi passwords, and disable Windows SmartScreen — making your device wide open for more attacks.

🚀 The New Trick: ArcanaLoader

Lately, these attackers have upped their game with something called ArcanaLoader — a fake installer with a pretty graphical interface that looks totally legit. It claims to install cheats, mods, and tools but instead drops Arcane Stealer right into your system.

It’s being pushed in Russian-speaking gamer communities, but let’s be real — this could hit anyone chasing free cheats online.

🔒 How to Stay Safe:

✅ Avoid downloading cheats, cracks, or mods from unverified YouTube links or unknown websites.
✅ Stick to official game sources or well-established, trusted communities when adding mods or tools.
✅ Keep your operating system, software, and security tools updated to help detect and block potential threats.
✅ Be cautious of any file that asks you to disable security settings or run .bat or executable files without a clear reason.

At the end of the day, that “free cheat” might cost you way more than a lost Minecraft match. Play smart, stay safe, and spread the word — Arcane Stealer is out there, and it’s hungry for your data.