Hackers Use Steam Game To Secretly Steal User Data - 1

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Hackers Use Steam Game To Secretly Steal User Data

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Hackers used a Steam game called Chemia to hide malware that secretly steals player data

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • The game delivered HijackLoader and Vidar infostealers to user devices.
  • Malware connected to a Telegram-based command-and-control system.
  • The attack was stealthy, with no impact on gameplay performance.

The hacking group EncryptHub secretly embedded info-stealing malware into the early access Steam game Chemia, putting unsuspecting players at risk.

BleepingComputer , who first reported this story, explains that Chemia, a survival crafting game by Aether Forge Studios, is still in early access and has no official release date.

According to cybersecurity firm Prodaft, the compromise began on July 22 when EncryptHub added malicious files to the game.

Did you play Chemia on Steam? 🎮 Then you should be worried. LARVA-208’s modification of the game to distribute Fickle Stealer, HijackLoader and Vidar demonstrates a concerning trend. ➡️Check the IOCs now: https://t.co/heavBpufeD #threatintel #cybersecurity #malware #IOC pic.twitter.com/epfckhIohC — PRODAFT (@PRODAFT) July 23, 2025

The first malware, HijackLoader (CVKRUTNP.exe), sets up long-term device access before downloading the Vidar info-stealing program. The malware connects with its command center through a Telegram channel.

The second malware, Fickle Stealer, is added through a DLL file named cclib.dll just three hours after the initial malware deployment. The file executes PowerShell scripts to retrieve its main payload from an untrustworthy domain.

BleepingComputer explains that the Fickle Stealer malware steals browser data, including passwords, cookies and cryptocurrency wallet information.

“The compromised executable appears legitimate to users downloading from Steam, creating an effective social engineering component that relies on platform trust rather than traditional deception techniques,” Prodaft told BleepingComputer.

“When users click on the Playtest of this game, which they find in the free games, they are actually downloading malicious software,” the researchers added.

The malware runs silently, without disrupting gameplay, so most players remain unaware that their data is being stolen. The exact method through which EncryptHub accessed the game remains unknown, but insider involvement seems probable.

The game developers have not made any public announcements about the situation, while the game continues to remain live on Steam.

BleepingComputer notes that this is the third malware case involving early access Steam games this year. Until an official investigation is completed, experts recommend avoiding Chemia and being cautious with early access titles.

Lovable Becomes Fastest-Growing Software Startup In History - 2

Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

Lovable Becomes Fastest-Growing Software Startup In History

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

The Swedish AI company Lovable has become the fastest-growing startup in history to reach $100 million in revenue. After raising $200 million during a recent Series A round earlier this month, the company announced a new record in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) on Wednesday.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Lovable became the fastest-growing start-up to reach $100 million in revenue in history.
  • The company raised $200 million in a Series A round last week.
  • The startup also launched an AI agent called Lovable Agent for more complex tasks.

According to the announcement , it took Lovable just eight months to surpass the $100 million milestone in subscription revenue after reaching its first $1 million. The company also introduced a new AI agent as part of the update.

“Today, Lovable officially passed $100m in ARR – in just 8 months since our first $1M,” wrote the company. “This makes us the fastest-growing startup, not just in Europe, but in the world.”

Lovable, the popular “ vibe coding ” platform, also revealed that users have created over 10 million projects to date, averaging around 100,000 new projects per day.

According to Tech.eu , Lovable’s revenue growth has surpassed leading tech companies such as Cursor, OpenAI, and Wiz—recently acquired by Google for $23 billion . What sets Lovable apart is its focus on making software creation accessible to everyone—not just as an assistant for professional developers.

“The biggest barrier to building businesses is coding,” said Anton Osika, CEO and co-founder of Lovable, to Tech.eu. “99 per cent of people have great ideas and can execute on a business, but they don’t know how to write code. Lovable means anyone can go from idea to software in minutes.”

Osika added that the company is still learning about users’ needs and believes AI is making it easier than ever to unlock people’s creative potential.

Lovable also features agentic capabilities—it can search the web in real time, explore a user’s codebase, and debug errors automatically.

The AI agent, Lovable Agent, has been designed to help users develop more complex tasks with higher accuracy and fewer mistakes.

“When you give it a request, it doesn’t just execute—it interprets what you’re asking for, explores your codebase to understand the context, uncovers missing pieces, makes changes, fixes issues as they come up, and wraps it all up with a clear summary,” explained Lovable.