DayZ servers hit by malicious security breach, botnet threat

The popular zombie-inspired Arma II mod DayZ has been hit by a malicious security breach, allegedly threatening to turn the game's servers into a potential botnet.

"A person has gained access to our main email account which have details listed for our FTP's, etc. He then uploaded a malicious application to the US file host which has since been taken offline," an official announcement states.

"The file was called dayz_auto_updater.exe," the announcement continues. "This malicious software is lead to be a backdoor / bot."

Users who downloaded the file from the US Mirror are advised to scan their computer for viruses and visit ThreatExpert for further instruction if not located by a virus detector. Users are also advised to change their forum account passwords as a precaution, following a forum attack by the user.

The person responsible has been identified and banned from the game. Legal action will also be pursued.

Thanks, Kotaku.