Cryptojacking
In cryptojacking, cybercriminals install malicious software on business and personal computers, laptops, and mobile devices in an effort to generate cryptocurrency. It makes use of the computer’s power and resources to mine for cryptocurrencies or steals wallets that are owned by the unwitting victims of the attack. Easily deployable, background-running, and barely observable code.
A few lines of code are all it takes for hackers to take over a computer’s resources and cause it to respond slowly, use more CPU power, overheat, and send its electricity bill soaring. Â In addition to stealing cryptocurrency, hackers hijack hijacked computers so that they can mine valuable coins.
Cryptojacking centers on the idea that hackers take advantage of both business and personal computing resources to mine cryptocurrency. Hacker computers are often used to siphon currency into cybercriminals’ digital wallets. Compromised computers use more electricity to process information and slow down CPU functions.
What is cryptocurrency?
Satoshi Nakamoto (a pseudonym) created cryptocurrency by accident in 2009, with the goal of creating a centralized cash system. Nakamoto failed to achieve this goal, so he developed a cash system based on accuracy and transparency to avoid double-spending. With each passing year, this innovative, global technology becomes more widely used and accepted.
Cryptojacking: When it began
As Bitcoin was reaching its peak in September 2017, cryptojacking came to light. Coinhive published code on their website, which closed early in 2019, that provided website owners with a way to passively earn money instead of advertising on their website to earn income. Rather, they recognized that they could embed crypto mining scripts into the code. It was possible to use the computing resources of visitors to the website to mine Monero, a cryptocurrency that has since been implicated in other cryptojacking investigations.
Cryptojacking: How does it work?
Computers can be enslaved in multiple ways by cryptojackers. In one method, malware works as it would in a traditional system. Your computer is infected by cryptomining code after clicking on a malicious link in an email. When infected, the cryptojacker mines cryptocurrency while hiding in the background of your computer. Having infected your own machine, it is a local threat since it is residing on it.
Drive-by cryptomining is an alternative cryptojacking approach. This scheme exploits a JavaScript flaw in a Web page similar to malicious advertising exploits. A user who visits the page is then able to mine cryptocurrency.
During the bitcoin bubble, web publishers seeking to increase revenue and monetize traffic frequently asked their visitors if they could mine cryptocurrencies while on their site. As part of the deal, you receive free content and your computer is used to mine. When you are on, say, an online casino, the JavaScript code will probably keep you on the page for some time while it mines for coins. Upon leaving the site, the cryptomining site shuts down as well, releasing the computer. Theoretically, this shouldn’t be a problem as long as the sites are transparent and honest in what they do, but it is difficult to tell whether they are playing fairly.
 Generally speaking, drive-by cryptomining doesn’t ask for permission and continues working long after you leave the site. Owners and hackers of dubious websites frequently use this technique. Many people are unaware that websites visit to mine cryptocurrency are using their computers. There is only a small amount of system resource usage to remain undetected. A hidden browser window remains open even though the visible one appears to be closed. Most often, it is a pop-under that fits behind the clock or under the taskbar.
Even your Android device can be infected by drive-by cryptomining. The method of attack is the same as that used for desktop computers. There are times when an attack occurs through a Trojan hidden in an app. An infected site can redirect users’ phones to a persistent pop-under. Malicious Trojan horses can also infect Android devices, causing the phone to overheat and the battery to bulge, destroying your phone. That’s it.
If your phone has relatively low processing power, you might ask yourself, “Why to use it?”Cryptojackers must be aware of these attacks at scale, as they add to a collective strength that increases their chances of success.
Contrary to most other forms of malware, cryptojacking scripts don’t damage a computer or destroy data. Stolen resources have consequences, but. Yes, it is an annoyance if the computer is running slowly. However, there are real costs for larger organizations that may have suffered numerous cryptojacked systems. A drive-by cryptojacking attack can have a variety of consequences for an organization, including increased utility costs, labor costs, and missed business opportunities.
How to avoid cryptojacking
Good cybersecurity programs:
Kaspersky Total Security provides comprehensive protection against malware and can detect threats of all kinds, including cryptojacking. The best way to protect yourself from malware is to install security before you are a victim. Installing the latest software updates and patches – especially for web browsers – is also a good practice.
Keep an eye on the latest cryptojacking trends:
In order to embed updated scripts into your computer system, cybercriminals constantly modify code. Staying informed about the latest security threats is essential for keeping your network and devices safe from cryptojacking and other cyber threats.
Install browser extensions that block cryptojacking:
Web browsers are often used to deploy cryptojacking scripts. For example, minerBlock, No Coin, and Anti Miner are good browser extensions to keep cryptojackers at bay. Several popular browsers support them as extensions.
Use ad blocking software:
Installing an ad blocker can be an effective way to stop cryptojacking scripts, since they are often delivered through online ads. It is possible to detect and block malicious cryptojacking code with the use of ad blockers such as Ad Blocker Plus.
Turn off JavaScript:
It is possible to prevent your computer from being infected by cryptojacking code by enabling JavaScript while browsing online. In addition to stopping drive-by cryptojacking, this could also prevent you from using certain features.
Block websites known for delivering cryptojacking scripts:
Whenever you visit a website, make sure it is on a carefully vetted whitelist. However, this may leave your device or network open to new cryptojacking pages if you blacklist sites known for cryptojacking.
Cryptojacking: what you can do to avoid it
To minimize your organization’s vulnerability to cryptojacking, follow these steps:
You should train users on the cryptojacking threat by focusing on phishing-type attacks that load scripts onto their computers. “Training protects you against technical failures,” says Laliberte. Malware of all types will continue to be delivered primarily through phishing.
