Is Your PC Being Used For Cryptomining?
Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Monero are secure and potentially worth thousands of dollars, so naturally, hackers are looking for opportunities to mine them (“cryptomining”). They are using malicious tactics to obtain cryptocurrency, and they’re doing it with something called cryptojacking. Is your PC safe, or has it been cryptojacked? Find out now.
Surge in cryptojacking
The biggest reason why cryptojacking is becoming so popular is that it’s a low-risk, high-reward scheme. Instead of extorting money directly from the victim, hackers can secretly generate digital currencies without the victim knowing. And even if it’s detected, it’s almost impossible to track down who initiated the attack. Moreover, since nothing was actually “stolen” (other than a portion of computing power), victims have little incentive to apprehend the culprit.
Cryptojacking is also a cheap investment. For as little as $30, anyone can purchase a cryptojacking kit from the dark web to force other computers to generate Bitcoin or Monero for them. And while it’s difficult to tell exactly how much hackers are earning by cryptojacking, we can only surmise that it’s more than the initial $30.
Because of these reasons, there’s a good chance that this type of attack will be as popular as ransomware was in 2017. According to several reports, even sites like The Pirate Bay, Openload, and OnlineVideoConverter are allegedly using cryptojacking exploits to diversify their revenue streams.
Prevention and response
Prevention is always better than cure, so include cryptojacking in your monthly security training sessions. If employees practice extra caution in dealing with unsolicited emails and suspicious links, then hackers will have no way into your systems. Having the right hardware and software solutions in place is also a huge step. All Ashton clients are protected by Sophos Central Intercept X, which defends against ransomware, malware, cryptojacking, and more.
Beyond prevention, network monitoring solutions should also be used to detect any unusual computer behavior. For example, if you notice a significant number of PCs running slower than usual, assume that cryptojacking is taking place. And once it’s confirmed, advise your staff to close browser tabs and update browser extensions as soon as possible.
Because cryptojacking doesn’t steal data, it may seem less threatening than some malware, but in reality, its effects are just as severe — it can incur real power, cooling, and performance costs to your business when several systems are compromised. To make sure your business stays in top form (and that you don’t end up enriching any hackers), contact Ashton Technology Solutions today, at 216 397-4080. Our security solutions will keep your business safe and sound. To learn more about how Sophos and Ashton can defend your network from Cryptojacking, read more here.
Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org.
