Children as young as 10 are downloading malicious software to launch sophisticated cyber attacks on online gaming opponents, according to police.

New South Wales detectives have tracked down dozens of cyber attackers in recent months as part of an international crackdown on the world's biggest malware market.

Many of those uncovered were teens who had launched distributed denial of service attacks to seek revenge or gain the upper hand against opponents playing the online gaming sensation Fortnite, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Young online gamers have used malware to seek revenge or gain the upper hand against opponents while playing the online gaming sensation Fortnite (stock image)

Among them was a 14-year-old boy from Tamworth, in the state's west, who used the malware to carry out 483 attacks against other gamers in just one month while playing the popular game, police said.

Many of those identified still lived at home with their parents and were unaware what they were doing was a criminal offence.

Parents have since been warned to keep a vigilant eye on their children's online activity.

'We were lucky that the use of this software in Australia was mostly used by kids trying to upset an online gaming opponent,' State Crime Command acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith told the Daily Telegraph.

'It's equally feasible that in the wrong hands — and with coordinated intent — it could've been used to attack systems with sensitive or protected information, such as banking, government, or even military.'

State Crime Command acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith (pictured) urged parents to keep a more vigilant eye on their children's online gaming activities

Eight juveniles have received Youth Offenders Act cautions.

NSW detectives are in the process of visiting all 41 people they've identified to have used malicious software.

One Sydney teen allegedly used the malware tried to hack into his school's computer system, police said.

Another alleged user was a convicted child sex offender from the Southern Highlands.

He was charged with unauthorised impairment of electronic communication.