A mysterious online game promising financial rewards has swept through Iran, attracting players who defy government warnings in their pursuit of wealth.
But what is the game and the craze all about? Why is it captivating the masses, and what is fueling the opposition against it?
What is Hamster Kombat?
Hamster Kombat, a swiftly expanding “play-to-earn” mobile game accessible through Telegram, debuted officially on March 25th. Within a mere 72 days, it had amassed over 116 million users.
This game lets players oversee a virtual cryptocurrency exchange, earning in-game coins that can later be converted into tokens.
The fundamental gameplay revolves around players selecting a cryptocurrency exchange they wish to manage and tapping on the central Hamster icon on the screen to accumulate profits in the form of in-game coins.
As players accrue more coins in the exchange’s balance, its level increases, facilitating faster coin earnings.
What is the allure?
The users’ hope is that the game will be listed on an exchange. Cryptocurrency listing, also known as crypto coin listing, entails introducing a newly launched cryptocurrency to an exchange platform, thereby making it publicly accessible for trading.
The game’s resemblance Notcoin, a popular game in which some players achieved monetary gains, has also contributed to its appeal.
Moreover, it is essential not to overlook the simplicity of the game and the popularity of Telegram in Iran as the platform itself.
So, what could go wrong?
The game may lead to identity and data breaches, as experts have told Iran International.
“Since this game is NFT [non-fungible tokens], the ecosystem and platforms surrounding their use can directly lead to user tracking and data collection in different ways,” Sahar Tahvili, an AI researcher and the co-author of “Artificial Intelligence Methods for Optimization of the Software Testing Process” told Iran International.
“NFT” stands for a digital token of ownership usually purchased or sold using a cryptocurrency.
“This type of data is usually used for online marketing; however, it can also be used for identity fraud, phishing, social engineering, and other malicious purposes.
Aside from this, they also have this system where if you invite a friend, they will reward you, from which they can create a network of people, and discern their relationships and behavior patterns,” the expert told Iran International.
“Since people usually share their true identities and details when money is involved, their genuine digital identity could be accessible,” she added.
Telegram, founded by Pavel and Nikolai Durov, initially gained popularity for its stance against the Kremlin. But there are doubts concerning where the servers are based and possible threats as outlined by Forbes.
“Since its early days, Telegram has been infamous for shielding illicit content from authorities, playing the anti-establishment role . This type of separation can directly impact data security, performance, and compliance with different countries’ regulations, depending on where the hosting servers are located and how they are managed. In this case, the actual game files and user data will be stored on RU-CENTER’s infrastructure in Russia,” Tahvili said.
“On the other hand, the main servers of Telegram are also outside the European Union, which has raised concerns about compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Considering the large number of end users on both Telegram messenger and the Hamster game, Telegram needs powerful servers that can handle and process this large amount of data. Therefore such huge servers need to be located in sufficiently cold climates (such as Siberia) where the data centers can use the outside air for cooling,” the expert told Iran International.
Why is the Islamic Republic warning against the game?
“Storing such a large amount of personal data in a database outside of Iran might raise some concerns for the Iranian government. In fact, other countries could potentially access the personal data of Iranian citizens, which could be utilized for social engineering and phishing purposes,” Tahvili told Iran International.
The game generally raises significant issues, such as data security and the harvesting of user data. However, the primary concern for Iranian authorities appears to be the high level of public engagement in Tahvili’s opinion.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has restricted access to various messaging apps, replacing Telegram with local alternatives, the expert explained. However, domestic messengers have struggled to rival international messaging apps, largely due to their lack of appealing features and fears among citizens about potential surveillance.
“A filtered version of Telegram has now…
Read More: Iranians Chase Wealth Dreams, Defy Cryptocurrency Game Warning