A kind of malware known as crypto-malware allows threat actors to mine cryptocurrency on the computers or servers of others. Since 2017, it’s grown in popularity and is now one of the most common forms of malware.
For one, it is likely due to the fact that cryptocurrency mining consumes a large number of resources, which drives up electricity costs for users and limits the processing capacity of their computers, making it difficult to accomplish other activities.
An Overview of Crypto-Malware History
It was revealed in 2014 that a computer cluster at Harvard University was being used to mine dogecoins with the first crypto-malware. This finding was quickly followed by a similar attack on the NSF’s supercomputers in the same year, although to mine bitcoins illegally.
Only in 2017 did crypto-malware make news, as hackers ramped up their efforts to infect PCs, servers, and even web browsers that weren’t adequately protected in order to steal bitcoin. The former U.S. Federal Reserve employee Nicholas Berthaume who illegally mined for bitcoins on his employer’s computers was one especially intriguing attack.
Crypto malware volume increased by 4,000% from 500,000 to 4 million in one year. The most widely disseminated crypto-virus in 2019 was Coinhive and XMRig, which mined Monero currency. The following five crypto-malware variants were the most often found in the first half of 2020:
- XMRig
- JSEcoin
- WannaMine
- RubyMiner
- NRSMiner
Cryptojacking and Crypto Malware
Cryptojacking is the unauthorized use of another person’s computer to mine cryptocurrency via cryptovirus. There are two common methods of doing this.
Through phishing-like methods, users have been duped into installing harmful crypto-mining malware on their PCs. Users get an email that appears to be authentic and contains a link encouraging them to click on it. When clicked, a piece of code runs on their computers, installing a crypto mining script as well. Whenever a victim uses their computer, the script is automatically executed in the background.
A malicious script can also be sent to many websites via an advertisement that has been compromised by hackers. When a victim accesses an infected website or sees an infected ad in their browser, the script begins running automatically. Because the malicious code isn’t kept on the victims’ machines, it’s difficult if not impossible to identify in this situation. scenario
To summarise, malicious malware solves mathematical problems on victims’ computers and sends the results to a hacker-controlled server, regardless of the technique employed.
Over the Years, Notorious Crypto-Malware
Over the years, we’ve seen a variety of crypto viruses get into the systems of unsuspecting victims. Some have become famous for their infamous antics, such as:
- PowerGhost
For cybercriminals, the best return on their investment is to infect business networks particularly in places like India, Turkey, Brazil, and Colombia.
- Graboid
To date, this is the only known cryptovirus that can propagate via unprotected virtual networks like a worm. By the end of October 2019, it has infected over 2,000 Docker deployments.
- MinerGate
When the victim’s PC is in use, the ransomware will automatically stop. In order to avoid being discovered, it detects mouse movements and suspends mining operations.
- BadShell
In order to avoid detection, it makes use of Windows processes. Malware may be injected into operating programs using PowerShell, scheduled using Task Scheduler, and stored in registries.
- Facexworm
The extension utilizes Facebook Messenger to spread malware onto the PCs of its victims. It started out as an adware dropper but has evolved into a malicious crypto miner that targets cryptocurrency exchanges.
- WinstarNssmMiner
This crypto malware is popular for crashing or destroying a victim’s computer if the provided or infected file is deleted.
- CoinMiner
For finding and stopping bitcoin mining operations (if the victim is into mine, that is) in order to execute and send coins to its operator, it has a bad reputation.
Using someone else’s computer or server to mine cryptocurrencies is harmful conduct, even if it is not against the law. It is a felony under the law to spread and profit from crypto virus infections on other people’s computers.
