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FULL SECURITY+ IN 31 DAYS COURSE 📹 Join the wait list - https://certbros.kit.com/01730e35f7 BOSON PRACTICE EXAMS ✔ Best practice exams - https://www.certbros.com/security-plus/exsim HAVE A QUESTION? 💬 Discord - https://www.certbros.com/discord Disclaimer: Some of these are affiliate links. If you purchase using these links, I'll receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crypto malware is a stealthy threat that turns your computer into a money making machine for someone else, quietly draining performance and power while you carry on as normal. What Is Crypto Malware? Crypto malware is a type of malware that generates cryptocurrency by using a victim’s computing resources, such as the Central Processing Unit, commonly known as the CPU, and the Graphics Processing Unit, commonly known as the GPU. Instead of stealing files or locking you out like ransomware, crypto malware focuses on running mining tasks in the background for long periods without being detected, then sending the rewards to the attacker. What Is Cryptocurrency? Cryptocurrency, often shortened to crypto, is a type of digital currency. Most cryptocurrencies are decentralised, meaning they are not controlled by a central authority and do not rely on banks. Instead, they use a peer to peer system managed by a global network of users. Cryptocurrency uses cryptography to keep transactions secure and reliable. Transactions are recorded in a publicly distributed ledger called a blockchain. How Blockchain Works At a high level, blockchain records transactions, such as transfers and payments, across a network. When transactions occur, they are broadcast to the nodes that maintain the blockchain. Multiple transactions are collected and grouped into a new block. For this explanation, the focus is on proof of work blockchains. In proof of work systems, special nodes called miners run complex algorithms to solve a cryptographic puzzle associated with the block. Solving the puzzle confirms and secures the transactions in that block. Once a miner solves the puzzle, the new block is distributed to other nodes for validation. After validation, the block is added to the blockchain, securing those transactions as part of the permanent record. Common Cryptocurrencies and Mining There are thousands of cryptocurrencies. Two of the best known are Bitcoin and Ethereum. To obtain cryptocurrency, you can buy it through services that sell crypto. Another option is mining. Mining uses computing power and electricity to help process transactions on certain blockchains. When a miner successfully solves the required puzzle, they receive cryptocurrency as a reward. Mining is legal and is a fundamental part of how many cryptocurrency networks operate. What Is Cryptojacking? Mining can require significant computing power and a lot of electricity, which makes it expensive. That leads to a criminal shortcut. Cryptojacking is the use of unauthorised access to devices to mine cryptocurrency without the victim’s knowledge. The victim pays for electricity and hardware wear, while the attacker takes the profit. A single computer may not produce much, but at scale across thousands or tens of thousands of devices, cryptojacking can become very lucrative. How Crypto Malware Enables Cryptojacking One of the most common ways cryptojacking spreads is through malware. When a device is infected with crypto mining software, that infection is known as crypto malware. It runs silently in the background, using CPU and GPU resources to perform mining work and sending the earnings to the attacker. Crypto malware is designed to be quiet and persistent, but it can still have serious consequences. It can increase electricity bills due to high energy consumption. It can slow down system performance. Over time, it can contribute to hardware damage and lead to expensive repairs or replacements. Cryptojacking Through Websites Not all cryptojacking requires a traditional malware infection. Attackers can embed crypto mining code into hacked websites. When someone visits a compromised site, the code executes and uses the visitor’s computing resources to mine cryptocurrency without their knowledge or consent.