From identity theft to stolen credit card numbers,. One of these cybercrimes is cryptojacking, and as the cryptocurrency industry grows, so too are instances of this attack.
Cryptojacking is when a hacker secretly hijacks computers, smartphones, tablets or servers and turns them intocryptocurrency miners. The unpermitted use exploitsblockchain networksor applications, which otherwise securely record and maintain cryptocurrency transactions. More thanin 2022 alone. Here’s what you need to know to prevent this type of crime.
Anyone who has a device connected to the internet and who browses webpages, checks email or downloads apps is at risk for cryptojacking.
While that sounds alarming, there are two common ways people usually fall victim to cryptojacking. One occurs byclicking on a malicious email link, which immediately loads crypto-mining software onto your device and, unbeknownst to you, turns it into a crypto-mining machine.
The other method, calleddrive-by crypto-mining, happens when a piece of JavaScript code is embedded into a webpage so that any time a device is used to visit that page, the device gets used for cryptocurrency mining.
These schemes happen frequently on pages or apps that draw a lot of traffic. For example,.
A year later,and even promoted on lists of the top free apps. When users downloaded and launched one of the apps, they would unknowingly download cryptojacking software onto their device.
One problem cryptojacking causes also happens to be one way to detect when cryptojacking is happening: It causes your device to not function properly. A:
Recognizing the signs of cryptojacking is only one way to protect yourself from cybercrimes. Preventing them before they happen is another.
Taking steps to reduce the risk of cryptojacking is also helpful forpreventing other cyber threats. (And with more data breaches happening every year, thefuture of cybersecurityrelies on people who understand how to protect themselves from these threats.)
Some helpful ways toreduce the riskof cryptojacking are:
Keep in mind that when your computer is being victimized by cryptojacking, it could also be troubled by other kinds of cyberattacks. One of the best methods of prevention is understanding other kinds of cybercrimes.
Initially,cryptojacking may seem relatively harmless, but using devices for this cybercrime is more than a breach of security — it’s also a breach of your privacy and your right to sole ownership of your device. Other cybersecurity threats include:
While cryptojacking can burden your computer’s functionality, it’s not as immediately devastating as other cyberattacks, which often target financial and private information. That’s why it’s important to learn how to detect as many kinds of cyber threats as you can, including cryptojacking.
Since cryptojacking occurs in the background of your system, it can be difficult to detect. What’s more, because cryptojacking code can be disguised to look like regular processes, evenantivirus and antimalware softwaremay miss it.
If you are concerned your computer or IT systems are under threat of cyberattack, consider connecting with an expert who has abackground in cybersecurityand can identify the issue. IT professionals experienced indigital forensicscan identify cryptojacking, recover from it and prevent it and other cybercrime down the line. It’s worth your time — and your company’s security — to be proactive about understanding the impact of today’s most prominent cyberthreats.
Whether you’re seeking to gain a basic understanding of cybersecurity and other IT skills or you’re a working professional looking to expand your knowledge, ۴ý offersonline course collections and degree programs.