It’s been whole nine (9) days since PC players had to stop playing GTA Online due to an exploit that allowed hackers to take over their accounts and alter them, causing a permanent ban and untold amounts of damage.

After days of radio silence and no updates to the game, Rockstar has finally released a small patch that is supposed to prevent the attacks and let the players back into the online and offline versions of the game.

There is scant evidence that the newly-available patch actually works, but it is available on Steam, Epic, and Rockstar launchers. Download size is between 300-900MB, and here are the full patch notes, as provided by the devs:

GTAV Title Update 1.66 Notes (PC)

[February 1, 2023]

Security

• Implemented a new data protocol in GTA Online to improve the security of network sessions and player-to-player messaging
• Fixed an issue that could result in a player’s GTA Online experience being modified by a third party, including:
  • altering GTA$ balance, RP level, Bad Sport status, and other player stats
  • manipulation of players being kicked or crashed

Game Stability and Performance

• General stability improvements

GTA Online’s subreddit is full of players who are waiting to see if one brave soul will launch the game and inform if it’s safe to go back to the streets of Los Santos.

Tez2, a long-time reporter of all goings-on in Rockstar games has deemed the situation “safe for now” on GTA Forums.