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Cybercriminals are circulating a fake 113 GB GTA VI ISO on torrent sites, claiming it contains a leaked PC build of the unreleased game. Reports say the file is almost entirely padded with zero-filled junk data and hides a small malicious payload of roughly 50 KB, turning intense interest in the title into a malware lure for users seeking pirated downloads.
Analysis shared by researchers and cited by multiple outlets says the payload attempts to weaken endpoint protections by adding the entire C:\ drive to Microsoft Defender exclusions and by terminating security tools with taskkill. The campaign is particularly deceptive because GTA VI has been announced only for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, not PC, and it appears alongside fake GTA 6 download sites that redirect victims to unwanted software through affiliate-style schemes.
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Researchers reported additional GTA 6-themed malicious lures beyond the fake 113GB build, including fake websites serving Windows installers via DLL side-loading, fake GTA 6 Mobile apps linked to infostealers and ransomware, and counterfeit Rockstar Social Club login pages for credential theft. The findings showed the campaign had expanded across multiple delivery and monetization methods.
A related campaign used websites imitating the GTA 6 site to offer supposed downloads, then redirected victims to software called Download Studio. The operators were reported to monetize the scheme through an affiliate program, with the software characterized as unwanted rather than legitimate game access.
Take-Two Interactive reportedly sought device IDs for members of three Discord servers as part of efforts to identify the leaker using the name Cyberleek. The move was described in the context of ongoing GTA VI leak activity.
Reported decompiled bytecode from the fake installer allegedly contained a PowerShell command to add the entire C:\ drive to Microsoft Defender exclusions and taskkill -f commands to terminate security software. These details indicated the lure was designed to weaken endpoint protections before executing its payload.
An X user highlighted the file and asked others to verify it, after which another user reported reverse engineering or analyzing the ISO. The analysis claimed the image was not a real game build but mostly zero-filled padding with an approximately 50KB malicious payload.
A purported 113GB ISO claiming to contain Grand Theft Auto VI was reported as being shared online, including on torrent sites, despite no announced PC release for the game. The lure used the filename "grand.theft.auto.vi.gta.6.cyberleek.v1.287.0.lucia.repack.iso" and referenced the leak-related name "Cyberleek."
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Threat actors are exploiting demand for an unreleased **Grand Theft Auto VI** download through SEO-poisoned search results, gaming forums, torrent sites, social-media posts, and a fraudulent fan countdown site. One campaign distributes oversized, junk-padded ISO files—some exceeding 100 GB—to make a supposed leak appear legitimate. Their `gta6installer.exe` displays Russian-language licensing messages before reporting a deliberate “license not found” failure, while silently installing NJRAT and DCRAT remote-access trojans, the Mercurial Grabber infostealer, and a Chaos ransomware variant used as a destructive wiper. The ISO campaign appears primarily aimed at Russian-speaking users. A separate fake GTA 6 download site embeds a Solana wallet drainer and remotely configured code capable of profiling and draining assets across seven blockchain networks. Victims face theft when they approve a transaction or token/NFT permission request; the site selectively blocks users in several CIS countries and uses anti-analysis measures. Organizations should warn users against unofficial GTA 6 downloads, isolate and fully reimage systems that executed the fake installer, reset exposed credentials and enable MFA. Wallet users that approved malicious permissions should revoke them and move remaining assets to a new wallet if their funds or recovery phrase may have been exposed.
Sep 14, 2026
Cybercriminals are exploiting demand for **Grand Theft Auto VI** with fraudulent websites that promise “VIP Early Access,” beta keys, and subscriptions while impersonating official branding with GTA 6 logos, Vice City imagery, and other convincing artwork. Researchers cited by Malwarebytes and NordVPN reported a surge in these sites, which primarily target **PC** and **Android** users by advertising nonexistent versions of the game even though Rockstar Games has announced launch plans for **PlayStation 5** and **Xbox Series X/S** and said there is **no public beta program**. Victims are typically asked to send about **$250** in cryptocurrency, including **Bitcoin**, **Ethereum**, or **USDT**, but receive neither access nor a legitimate game copy. Instead, the lures can lead to malware infections involving **information stealers**, **banking trojans**, **adware**, or **ransomware**, extending a pattern seen in earlier GTA 6-themed scams that used fake ads and bogus PC beta downloads to compromise users.
Jun 29, 2026
Cybercriminals set up fake **Rockstar Games** websites advertising a nonexistent **GTA 6 demo** and “Extended Look” content, then pushed a malicious Windows file named `gta6_installer.exe` to users searching for leaked footage, maps, or unofficial builds. Researchers identified the payload as **Vidar** infostealer, a malware family that harvests saved passwords, session cookies, browser history, autofill data, and credentials from other applications, creating a high risk of account takeover through stolen authenticated sessions. The campaign exploited renewed public interest in leaked Grand Theft Auto VI material and used cloned branding tied to Rockstar’s legitimate promotion while inserting deceptive download and “Play Now” buttons. Reporting indicates the sample targeted **19 browsers** and additional software including **Thunderbird**, some FTP clients, and browser components used by other applications, while also relying on dead-drop resolver profiles on **Telegram**, **Pinterest**, and **Steam Community** to locate attacker infrastructure. Published indicators include malicious domains, associated Vidar infrastructure, and a **SHA-256** hash for the sample, and defenders advised affected users to scan infected systems, change passwords from a clean device, revoke active sessions, and remove unknown devices or app authorizations.
Aug 27, 2026