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Steam Wallpaper Engine Hit by Malware Campaign

WireByte Staff · June 18, 2026

Kaspersky researchers discovered a malware campaign targeting Steam users through the Wallpaper Engine live wallpaper tool. The campaign, which began last year, pushed various types of malware, including credential stealers and crypto miners, to gamers in China. Dozens of malicious packages were downloaded tens of thousands of times before removal.

Key points

  • Kaspersky researchers identified a malware campaign targeting Steam users through the Wallpaper Engine live wallpaper tool.
  • The campaign, which began last year, pushed various types of malware, including credential stealers and crypto miners, to gamers in China.
  • Dozens of malicious packages were downloaded tens of thousands of times before removal.
  • The Wallpaper Engine tool, priced at $4.99, supports four wallpaper types and has 93,000 to 114,000 concurrent users.
  • Kaspersky observed two delivery methods, including direct placement of malicious files and password-protected archives.
  • The campaign's impact is still being assessed, but it highlights the importance of security measures in online gaming platforms.

Kaspersky researchers have uncovered a malware campaign targeting Steam users through the Wallpaper Engine live wallpaper tool. The campaign, which began last year, pushed various types of malware, including credential stealers and crypto miners, to gamers in China. Dozens of malicious packages were downloaded tens of thousands of times before removal.

The Wallpaper Engine tool, priced at $4.99, supports four wallpaper types and has 93,000 to 114,000 concurrent users. Kaspersky observed two delivery methods, including direct placement of malicious files and password-protected archives. The campaign's impact is still being assessed, but it highlights the importance of security measures in online gaming platforms.

As the gaming industry continues to grow, the risk of malware and other security threats also increases. This campaign serves as a reminder for gamers and platform owners to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect against such threats.

Sources

WireByte Staff — Editorial Team

The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.