The trend of crypto is undoubtedly very high but not all miners are using their own resources to mine virtual currency. Illegal miners are using crypto mining malware for this purpose.
One such incident is revealed by Check Point Research. It found that thousands of window users who are downloading the Google Translate App for their desktop version are getting hacked.
Their computers are used as a host to mine crypto without getting detected by antivirus software. A Turkish company named Nitrokod is behind the hacking and it has developed a fake Google Translate Desktop App which is easily available online.
Here’s the full report
How Did Crypto Mining Malware Affect Users?
via:techspot
The malware program set a crypto mining operation on the users’ device once the fake application is downloaded.
After the installation is done, the malware connects the PC to the C&C server for XMRig configuration for mining Monero cryptocurrency.
However, hackers performed these operations in multiple steps to avoid detection by antivirus software.
Also Read: These 50 Android Apps Have Dangerous Malware, Uninstall Now
It is done in 4 stages, first Dropper 5 is installed to detect firewalls. If nothing is found, hackers send crypto mining malware to a temporary folder of the computer.
It then mines crypto without letting users know. After the installation of the fake Google Translate app, the hackers also clean up the traces to avoid getting noticed.
How Many Were Affected?
via:iamcheated.com
Over 112,000 users from more than 10 countries downloaded the fake desktop application since 2019.
As per Outlook India, the infected countries are:
- Greece
- Australia
- Cyprus, Turkey
- Germany
- Israel
- Poland
- Mongolia
- The United States
- The United Kingdom
- Sri Lanka
Tips to Avoid Getting Scammed
Maya Horowitz, the Vice Preside of Check Point Software, has given a few basic tips for fraud prevention.
- Check errors in websites’ names before downloading. Genuine websites don’t have such type of spelling errors.
- Do not forget to check the email sender in case you receive any unfamiliar email in the inbox or spam.
- Beware of websites with lookalike domains
- Always download any software from an authorized platform
- Keep your computer and mobile device up-to-date to ensure full security
These tips will help them keep their computers safe from crypto mining malware.
Earlier, Microsoft rolled out a processor-level technology known as Intel TDT ( Threat Detection Technology) to detect such malware.
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