Crypto malware, also known as cryptojacking is a kind of malware designed to mine cryptocurrency with the victim’s system without their consent. Victims can encounter malware from websites, downloads, suspicious attachments, etc.
If a victim’s system is infected, the malware hijacks its resources to mine cryptocurrency for the hacker, causing the system to overheat and perform much slower than normal.
How does crypto malware work?
- The target clicks an infected link or visits an infected website.
- This automatically downloads the malware script onto the victim’s system and secretly runs in the background.
- The malware script then proceeds to use the device’s processing power to perform complex mathematical algorithm calculations in order to mine cryptocurrency.
- The mined cryptocurrency is then secretly sent back to the attacker’s wallet, all while inconveniencing the victim’s device.
- The malware secretly runs in the background, overworking the victim’s device and causing it to slow down or overheat.
- The malware and mining can continue indefinitely if the hacker wishes as long as the victim does not notice.
Ways to detect crypto-malware
- Your system runs much slower: Since the malware requires a lot of computing power, it greatly tasks the CPU and causes overheating.
- You may notice suspicious processes: Keep an eye on your task manager to ensure there aren’t any malware processes running in the background as legitimate processes.
- Unusual network traffic: Since the malware needs to send and receive instructions from the attacker, you can check for unusual network activity.
- Antivirus alerts: If you have antimalware software installed, you should get alerts of malware infections. Ensure you run frequent scans to keep your device clean and protected.
