There’s a song “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” and certainly in the case of the new Nintendo Switch Game console, it tends to be true. Scams are popping up claiming to provide an emulator for this new product, but deliver anything but for those trying to get it.
Some sites claim to provide instructions on how to download a file to play the new Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild game on a PC. Some of these sites collect information, including personally identifiable information such as names, addresses, and email addresses. What is done with the information is not yet known. Just be sure that it probably isn’t Nintendo asking for it.
In addition, YouTube videos are popping up that show people discussing “free tools” for the Switch, but offer none, and others offer files that do more damage. The most annoying of these fake sites promises an emulator, but actually installs the OneSystemCare application that merely provides misleading information about the performance of the computer and requests payment to “fix” the issues. The files that get downloaded are PUA.Downloader for Windows and OSX.Malcol for Mac.
Be cautious about downloading non-official copies of games and files. Scammers take advantage of gamers by promising versions of games for cheap or free, but what ends up on the device is scareware, ransomware, some other type of malware, or a barrage of unwanted advertising at the very least. Last year, there were many instances of malware in fake Pokémon Go apps as well as in a malicious version of the Super Mario Run game that was made available by cybercriminals to Android users before Nintendo released it for that platform.
Often these programs are offered through third party sites in the case of mobile devices. It’s recommended to always get apps and software through the official app stores for those and through the official developer sites for computer software.
Within recent years, game players using Xbox and PlayStation have been victims of data breaches and last year, over 33 million customers of Evony Games had data stolen by cyberthieves.
In the case of games, there really is nothing like the real thing. If you want the Switch and the games that can be played on it, you should buy the real one rather than risk getting malware or potentially unwanted programs (PUP) on your devices.
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