Valve removes video game listing suspected of being malware

Valve removed a video game listing from its online store Steam after users reported that a free demo for the game was installing malware on their computers.

The game was called Sniper: Phantom’s Resolution, and promised to give players “realistic [first-person shooter] mechanics, dynamic storytelling, and high-stakes missions,” according to an archive of its Steam page. 

The first reports that the free demo for the game may actually be malware came earlier this week from several users on Reddit who downloaded it and analyzed it. The Steam listing linked to the developer’s website, which hosted the game demo.

The game’s removal from Steam was first reported by TheGamer. 

Last month, Valve had to deal with a similar situation, when it removed a game called PirateFi, which turned out to be a plant for malware designed to steal players’ passwords, a type of malicious software known as an info-stealer. 

Valve did not respond to a request for comment. 

This story has been updated to clarify that the malicious demo was hosted on the developer’s site and not on Steam.

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