Steam Messages

Posted: November 20, 2014

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Ranking:	5,355
Threat Level:	1/10
Infected PCs:	7,420

First Seen:	November 20, 2014
Last Seen:	October 17, 2023
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

Steam Messages, while a native function of the Steam gaming client, also may be exploited to deliver threats and phishing attacks. Various campaigns exploiting Steam Messages have existed for almost as long as the client, itself, and may compromise your Steam account or infect your PC with threats that may include Trojans with backdoor functions. When you're insecure about the safety of any Steam Messages you receive, malware researchers suggest avoiding unknown Web links, including ones that seem to lead to 'harmless' files.

Clearing the Air about the Security Risks of Steam Messages

Like all applications with instant messaging functions, Steam may be utilized for both threatening and benign communications. However, Steam Messages have seen recurring uses in misleading campaigns, often reusing telltale tactics that are easily identifiable as hostile from the outset. As of mid-2014, the most popular technique is the fake image link. Because Steam Messages lack any ability to deliver files through direct transfers, these attacks, instead, use hyperlinks to files depicted as being of formats such as PNG, GIF or JPG.

The Web domains referenced in these links may use copycat names that are variants of popular Steam services, such as 'csgo-iounge' for csgolounge.com, a Counterstrike trading website. These copycat domains may lead computer users to giving their Steam credentials away in fake login pages. A second, equally-popular payload for a Steam Messages attack is an attempt to install disguised threats, which may use a fake image-hosting domain in lieu of a copycat site.

Common threats distributed in Steam Messages may include spyware that record information, backdoor Trojans that allow third parties to access your PC and Trojans with threat-downloading functions.

Dispersing Any Threat that Steam Messages could Hold

Steam Messages of threatening intent may be distributed by legitimate, but compromised Steam accounts, including ones whose users have fallen victim to some of the attacks described previously. Because of this universal risk and the repeated, long term abuse of Steam Messages for such attacks, any links sent through Steam should be distrusted, by default. Along with requesting confirmation of safety from a trusted contact, you also can navigate to popular sites, such as game item-trading warehouses, by typing in their URLs manually. The latter especially is encouraged by malware experts for navigation to any site with a well-known reputation and an easily-misspelled Web address.

In terms of their raw functions, Steam Messages may be no more or less hurtful than the instant messaging features of any other IM program. Nonetheless, Steam's popularity has caused both threat authors and would-be account hijackers to take advantage of this platform with various tactics. Attacks through Steam Messages may be tailored with details specific to Steam users, and even unrelated websites such as YouTube, may be exploited in Steam user-targeting Trojan campaigns.

Technical Details

Additional Information

The following URL's were detected:

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