Over 28,000 devices have been attacked with a new malware attack that is being used to mine and steal bitcoins. According to a story from cybersecurity company Doctor Web, the attackers were surprised that they were only able to steal about $6,000 worth of crypto.
In order to steal crypto, this malware posed as real software, such as office tools, game cheats, and online trade bots. Most of the people who got sick were in Russia, but cases were also seen in Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey.
Malware works by taking over the computers of people who have it and using them to mine cryptocurrency in the background. Besides that, it has a “clipper” tool that checks the clipboard for copied crypto wallet names. When a user tries to send money, the malware changes the copied address to one controlled by the attackers. This lets the attackers send the money somewhere else.
According to Doctor Web’s report, the malware was spread through fake GitHub pages and harmful links hidden in the titles of YouTube videos. Malware hides its presence by making files look like real system components and using complex methods to avoid being found. For example, it hides itself in password-protected packages that are not scanned by antivirus software.
This hack shows a risk that always exists in the world of crypto. Infected devices were used to mine cryptocurrency, but the thieves only took $6,000 worth. It’s not known how much they made from this.
Cryptojacking is a type of hacking in which someone uses another person’s device to mine cryptocurrency without their knowledge. It has been a constant danger over the past few years. Doctor Web saw that a lot of the victims had installed illegal software, which made them more likely to be attacked. To avoid these kinds of risks, we tell people to only run software from approved sources.
Malware that steals crypto has become more advanced over time, able to hide itself and perform more than one harmful task. During the 2017 crypto boom, cybercriminals kept coming up with new ways to take advantage of people’s growing interest in digital assets. This led to a rise in this type of malware.
This malware attack didn’t do much damage to the company’s finances, but it does show how important strong cybersecurity is for keeping digital assets and personal gadgets safe. Users should be careful, keep their software up to date, and not download programs from places they don’t know or trust to lower their risk of falling for these types of threats.
