Most crypto security issues involve hackers stealing private keys, accessing crypto wallets, and stealing whatever is inside. However, there is a new way of stealing known as cryptojacking. This new activity involves infecting a device and taking full control of it. Cyber attackers exploit the power of your device without your authorization and use it to mine cryptocurrency. As crypto-mining became lucrative, it came with this problem that has raised a lot of cybersecurity issues. Remember, cryptojacking does not target individuals only. Public utilities and companies have also been victims. They have been hit by malware, infecting their devices and using the processing power to mine crypto.
The main intention of this activity is to make money. When a device is infected with malware, it loses the processing power that hackers use to mine coins and send them to their wallets. Your device may be safe, but you never know when this criminal activity may strike. Let us look at cryptojacking activity and how it happens.
How Does It Work?
The main reason cryptojacking is still prevailing is that it is very profitable to hackers and has no barrier to entry. A hacker only needs a few codes to access your device or cloud server and run the malware in the background. Your website could also be infected by malware where the hacker uses a command line with the HTML code. Therefore, the program runs automatically once you use your website. Remember, this activity does not interfere with your ETH wallet or personal information. The main aim is to gain access to the device’s computing power.
How to Detect Cryptojacking
Hackers want malware to hide as long as possible to continue mining crypto coins using your device. Therefore, they have been careful and designed malware to go unnoticed for a long time. Nonetheless, it does not mean you can never know when your device is infected by cryptojacking malware. Some signs that your device is infected include the following:
- Overheating
- High CPU usage
- Battery draining faster
- The device is noisy and slow
- Unexpected high electricity bills for servers.
However, these signs do not necessarily mean your devices are infected. Therefore, running your system with an antivirus is advisable to detect malware. If the virus has infected your website, look for a suspicious line in the code.
Protecting Yourself Against Cryptojacking
Like any other malware, protecting yourself from the virus and keeping your devices safe is possible. There are enough details on keeping your devices secure from cryptojacking and other cyber-attacks. The following are the basic steps:
- Use ad blockers when browsing
- Install strong antivirus software and ensure they are up-to-date
- Disable JavaScript in the browser
- Avoid websites known for cryptojacking scripts
- Use cybersecurity systems to protect servers
Final Thoughts!
Cryptojacking is like a parasite that feeds on your device’s energy without you knowing. It is malicious malware that infects your device and takes control to mine cryptocurrency. Therefore, protect yourself from this cyber-attack by securing your devices and using powerful antivirus software to protect your systems.
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