Cryptocurrency mining malware that uses computer assets to secretly mine cryptocurrencies has been on the rise over the past 12 months, and now hackers are behind the buff. In response to a report from antivirus maker Avast, hackers hide malware in hot video games such as Grand Theft Auto V, NBA 2K19 and Professional Evolution Soccer 2018, as well as in a bid to corrupt devices. The malware in question, known as Krakonosh, appears to be of Czech origin, with researchers claiming the hackers have so far raked in $2 million by infecting devices.
In addition, the researchers claimed that malware had already been discovered on devices in a dozen countries. They found 13,779 cases in India, 16,584 in Brazil, 11,856 in the US, 8,946 in the UK, 18,448 in the Philippines and 12,727 in Poland. The malware disables Windows Update and uninstalls security software programs installed on devices as a way to prevent detection.
Cryptocurrency mining malware is popularly used to perform cryptocurrency mining operations. As mentioned earlier, cases of this type of malware have increased over the past 12 months amid developments in the cryptocurrency space. Earlier this month, security agency Kaspersky said it had seen more than 200,000 cases of this type of malware in the first quarter of 2021 alone.
“It is too early to say with certainty that the pattern we have come to know in the first quarter of 2021 is here to stay. However, it appears that the rise in the value of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has sparked renewed curiosity among miners,” said Evgeny Lopatin, security expert at Kaspersky. If the cryptocurrency market remains stable over these 12 months, we will continue to see additional cases of customers facing miners,” he said.
In its World Risk Intelligence Report for 2021, Japanese tech firm NTT said that such cryptojacking schemes accounted for 41% of all malware detected in 2020. Gamers use some of the strongest PCs discovered in the world. Suitable target for crypto mining, which depends on computing power.