Fake GTA VI ISO circulates on the internet a few days after leak, internet sleuths claim 113GB download is padded malware — testers claim file is 99.99% empty zeroes with 50KB virus embedded

August 24, 2026 - 01:40

A few days after a supposed leak of Rockstar's highly anticipated GTA VI, a fake ISO file has started circulating across torrent sites and shady forums. Internet sleuths have torn the 113GB download apart, and what they found is not pretty. According to testers who ran the file in isolated virtual machines, the archive is essentially 99.99% empty zeroes. The real payload is a tiny 50KB virus hidden somewhere in the directory structure.

The scam works like this: the file name and folder structure look convincing enough to fool someone in a hurry. There is a setup.exe, some fake .dll files, and a readme that tells you to disable your antivirus before running the installer. That last part is the big red flag. Anyone who follows those instructions ends up with a nasty surprise. The virus itself is not sophisticated, but it does not need to be. It is designed to steal saved passwords and browser cookies, then quietly send them to a remote server.

What makes this particularly nasty is the file size. Most people do not download a 113GB file on a whim, so the sheer size gives it an air of legitimacy. But the testers point out that the download is mostly padding. The actual code is just a few kilobytes. The rest is empty space designed to slow down analysis and make the file look like a real game rip.

If you see a GTA VI ISO floating around, treat it as a trap. Rockstar has not released any playable build, and no real leak has surfaced. The only thing you will get from this file is a compromised machine. Stick to official channels and wait for the actual release. Your PC will thank you.