A game called PirateFi published on Steam was found to contain malicious software. Before the game was removed from the platform, it was downloaded between 800 and 1500 times. On February 6, 2025, a pirate-themed survival game called PirateFi was released on the Steam platform. Developed by Seaworth Interactive, the game was available for free download. The malicious software in the game was identified as a trojan horse named Trojan.Win32.Lazzzy.gen. These types of trojan horses are typically used by hackers to gain access to users’ online accounts. A warning email was sent out. The digital game sales platform Steam sent out emails to users who had downloaded PirateFi, informing them that malicious software had been detected in the game. The email advised users to uninstall the game, conduct a comprehensive virus scan, and if necessary, reinstall Windows. Searching for moderators on Telegram. Meanwhile, a person claiming to be the developer of PirateFi on Telegram began offering job opportunities as in-game chat moderators to individuals. The hacker offered an hourly wage of $17 to the people he spoke with, with the assumption that he was doing this to further spread the malicious software. According to PCMag, this individual offering job opportunities instructed people to download the game and moderate in-game chat for at least an hour each day. Valve receives backlash. The fact that a game containing malicious software was added to the catalog of the world’s most popular digital game sales platform without being checked upset Steam users. Valve, the parent company of Steam, faced backlash on social media, with users emphasizing that especially free games should be carefully examined before being included on the platform. Beware of free games! Steam is a platform where nearly 20,000 games are released each year. A significant portion of these games are developed by little-known, small studios and are available for free or at very low prices. This area can be exploited by hackers to spread malicious software, steal users’ online accounts, learn their passwords, or steal browser data. Experts highlight the importance of researching the developing company and checking the reviews from seemingly trustworthy users before downloading a free game on mobile or PC.