The leaked GTA San Andreas source code is apparently fake and contains ransomware, so please don't download it

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Stay safe on the internet, folks

CJ on a motorbike firing a submachine gun with one hand
(Image credit: Rockstar)

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas supposedly had its source code leaked, but new information suggests it's fake and actually contains ransomware. I shouldn't need to write this, but please don't download random files from strangers on the internet. 

According to Twitter user PliskinDev whose name and bio both state they're a developer, "It has been confirmed that GTA San Andreas’s source code is fake and contains ransomware."

They share screenshots that supposedly show the files within the download for the source code, and the one labelled as San Andreas is only 17,857KB. That's only a tiny bit bigger than my college dissertation which is only a few dozen text pages and some pictures, so there's no way that's a complete game.

Two of the much bigger files are around 3.5 and 1.5GB each, and they're both labelled as Rhysida files. What is Rhysida, you ask? The US Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) warns that they're "a new ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) group that has emerged since May 2023. The group drops an eponymous ransomware via phishing attacks." So, best to steer clear of them.

If they get your data, "The group then threatens victims in a ransom note with public distribution of the exfiltrated data, bringing them in line with modern-day double-extortion groups."

According to HC3, there's a victim portal on the Dark Web where the group posts its auctions on stolen data, how many people it's stolen from, and links to media coverage of the group. On top of that, "Rhysida accepts payment in Bitcoin only, providing information on the purchase and use of Bitcoin on the victim portal as well." Cheeky.

So, please be careful when downloading things on the internet, especially if it's something you shouldn't have, like GTA: San Andreas' source code.

If you can't wait for more GTA, check out everything we know about GTA 6.

Issy van der Velde
Issy van der Velde
Contributor

I'm Issy, a freelancer who you'll now occasionally see over here covering news on GamesRadar. I've always had a passion for playing games, but I learned how to write about them while doing my Film and TV degrees at the University of Warwick and contributing to the student paper, The Boar. After university I worked at TheGamer before heading up the news section at Dot Esports. Now you'll find me freelancing for Rolling Stone, NME, Inverse, and many more places. I love all things horror, narrative-driven, and indie, and I mainly play on my PS5. I'm currently clearing my backlog and loving Dishonored 2.