: It was frequently bundled with early "cracks" released by groups before the official game launch. Academic and Security Papers
: Look for processes consuming unusually high CPU/GPU power (often 90%+) while the game is not running.
Video Game Piracy as Viral Vector and National Security Threat WatchDogsDDE.part1.rar
If you are looking for a formal "paper" or research regarding this specific incident, the most relevant academic work is:
: Use an up-to-date antivirus program to scan your AppData and Temp folders, where these miners typically hide. : It was frequently bundled with early "cracks"
: The installer covertly installed a miner that utilized the victim's CPU and GPU resources to mine cryptocurrency for the attackers, leading to high system temperatures and significantly reduced performance.
In late May 2014, multiple security reports and community alerts identified this specific file set as a "viral vector" for malicious software. Users who downloaded and installed this version reported the following: : The installer covertly installed a miner that
(Alternative title/version). This work details how over 25% of users downloading early pirated versions of Watch Dogs likely infected their machines with the miner. Security Recommendation If you currently have this file on your system: