How to protect yourself from cryptojacking
Simultaneously with the development of the cryptocurrency https://gagarin.news/news/binance-is-in-hot-water-over-iran/ industry in recent years, more and more cybercresses are taking place, one of which is cryptodjacking or hidden mining. According to research, the number of such attacks for the first half of 2022 increased by 30% compared to the same period last year.
Hidden mining has been used by attackers for several years: in 2017, the malicious JS/Coinminer program was revealed, the activity of which was mainly on the Russian -speaking segment of the Internet – 65% of the reflected attacks were on Russia. And in 2019, according to the FSB, hackers infected the programs for mining information resources of large companies, including websites of state organizations.
Hidden mining gives criminals more chances to remain unnoticed for a long time than with any other form of fraud. Many users see that their devices begin to work more slowly, but write off this on memory loading or other reasons, but do not associate the inhibition of processes with infection with computer viruses.
What is cryptodjing
Hidden mining or cryptodjing is an unauthorized use of a computer or smartphone by attackers for cryptocurrency mining, when the owner of the device does not know about this process. As a rule, such a scheme is carried out by hackers using the introduction of a special malicious program into the computer-a virus or miner-bot.
Such programs can be combined into Botnet – a network of malicious devices that are controlled by hackers from a single center. For the effectiveness of such mining, you usually need to infect many computers. Therefore, attackers more often pay attention to the networks of large companies, but home computers and smartphones are also attacked.
As a rule, by means of hidden mining, attackers mines cryptocurrencies such as Monero. This coin is anonymous, its transactions cannot be tracked. Monero production can be carried out on CPU, that is, on ordinary processors that are in all computers.
The main task of the attacker is to install the virus on the user’s computer. Most often, the miner gets to the device using Dropper, the function of which is to secretly set other programs. “Droppers” are usually masked for pirate versions of licensed products that users find on file hosting and download.
If there is no antivirus on the device, then the malicious software is launched as a hidden program and prescribes itself in a computer auto loading. Such viruses are often disguised as system files, and users perceive them as an obligatory part of.
Smart viruses are adjusted to the user’s activity: they can work when the computer is free and disconnected during large loads. In order not to cause additional suspicion, viruses do not use the free power of the devices per 100%.
How to find a virus
First of all, you should pay attention to the work of your device. If it begins to work incorrectly: the computer starts for a long time, restarts independently or cannot complete the work in the usual way, then this may indicate the presence of a hidden miner. The virus can give the enhanced operation of the device or its overheating at a time when any “heavy” applications are not launched on it and the user is not working.
Mining significantly loads the capacity of the processor and video card. Therefore, the slow operation of a computer or smartphone can also indicate infection of malicious. In the case when the task manager shows any files that do not respond to the command to complete the work, it is worth checking these programs. If your computer or smartphone does not slow down and does not overheat, then with a high probability there is no malware on it.
To find a hidden miner, sometimes it is enough to scan a computer using antivirus. Large cybersecurity companies often update the databases of their antiviruses, including adding information about the mainers. However, if the virus is encrypted with cryptography, then the antivirus may not find it.
More serious forms of viruses can be installed when using flash drives or downloading updates to popular programs not from official sites. Such viruses may not be visible through the tasks dispatcher, which significantly complicates their search on the computer.
If you cannot find the virus, but suspect its presence, check the temperature of the computer or smartphone when the device is not loaded. You can also install system loading and track network traffic, since mining needs constant communication with the pool.
How to remove malicious
The easiest way to remove such a virus is to reinstall the system. Also, malicious software can be removed using special programs for deleting, having previously enabled on the computer the display of hidden folders and files.
There is a paid software on the market to protect against cryptodjacking. Such programs prevent the installation of various viruses and block domains of many mining bullets.
So that attackers have less chance of using your equipment, you should update the operating system and applications responsible for the safety of your computer. Downloading updates from official sites of software manufacturers and deleting extra applications can also increase the protection of your devices from both your viruses and other malware.
Conclusion
Absolutely everyone can stumble upon harmful software, even if it seems that the system is well protected. Therefore, it is always worth being on the guard of your funds.
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