Microsoft warns cryptojacking is still a major threat, despite crypto winter
Bitcoin may be down, but cryptojackers are still flying high
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Cryptocurrencies may be losing value against the dollar right now, but they are still a very desirable asset for cybercriminals everywhere.
According to a newMicrosoftreport, the popularity of cryptojacking is still relatively high and newmalwarevariants are coming with advanced features and new ways to avoid detection.
In ablog post, Microsoft explained it detects cryptojackers on “hundreds of thousands”endpointsevery month via its in-built Windowsantivirusservice.
Targeting servers
Cryptojackers are a type of malware that mines specific cryptocurrencies and sends the coins to a wallet owned by the hackers. The malware will not destroy the device it infects, and is not interested in stealing sensitive data from the victim, but will absorb much of the device’s computing power.
For that reason, cryptojacking operators are usually not interested in consumer-grade devices, but have rather set their sights onserversandvirtual machines, which are usually more powerful and capable of mining more tokens, as compared to regularPCsandlaptops.
Among the most popular cryptojackers is XMRig, a piece of malware mining the Monero token (XMR). Monero is a relatively old cryptocurrency, one that promises full anonymity to its users and, as such, is immensely popular among crooks and people dealing in illegal trade.
Linux systems are being bombarded with ransomware and cryptojacking attacks>Cryptomining gangs go to war over unsecured Linux systems>The best small business servers have a big role to play for SMBs
Bitcoin, together with other cryptocurrencies, has been in a decline for the entire year. After hitting a high of approximately $68,000 in November last year, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency fell to roughly $17,000, before rebounding to the current $21,000.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Despite the unfavorable outlook at the moment, cybercriminals are still developing cryptojackers. Microsoft says the latest ones have become stealthier, “leveraging living-off-the-land binaries (LOLBins) to evade detection".
Most antivirus solutions should be able to spot them, though. Microsoft says it is able to detect cryptojacking by, among other things, analyzing CPU signals for patterns modeled after cryptojacking activity.
Sead is a seasoned freelance journalist based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He writes about IT (cloud, IoT, 5G, VPN) and cybersecurity (ransomware, data breaches, laws and regulations). In his career, spanning more than a decade, he’s written for numerous media outlets, including Al Jazeera Balkans. He’s also held several modules on content writing for Represent Communications.
7 myths about email security everyone should stop believing
Best Usenet client of 2024
How Agentic AI will revolutionize business operations – are you ready?
