Cryptojacking Alert: The Rise of Stealth Crypto Mining in 2018

The Shift in Cybercrime: From DDoS to Cryptojacking

In the ever-evolving world of cyber threats, 2018 witnessed a surprising trend: a shift from mass disruptions to more insidious stealth attacks. According to a bulletin released by Kaspersky Labs on November 28, crypto mining malware, referred to as cryptojacking, has seen a meteoric rise in popularity, particularly among botnets. Instead of causing conspicuous denial-of-service attacks, these malicious actors found a new money-making machine.

Understanding Cryptojacking

Cryptojacking is a stealthy operation where cybercriminals install malware to use a computer’s processing power for mining cryptocurrencies without the owner’s knowledge or consent. Picture this: you’re peacefully sipping coffee, maybe watching cat videos, and your computer is digging for digital gold without your even realizing it!

Statistical Insights and Trends

According to Kaspersky’s analysis, after the cryptocurrency market peaked earlier in the year, public interest in cryptojacking briefly dwindled. However, the threat remained persistent. During Q1 of 2018, the share of cryptojacking malware downloaded by botnets reached 4.6%, a noticeable uptick from 2.9% in Q2 of 2017. This increase points towards a growing preference for mining attacks among cybercriminals freshly peeved by the plunging market.

Botnets Taking on New Roles

Kaspersky also revealed that by Q3 2018, there was a significant decline in DDoS attacks. The reason? Cybercriminals were retooling their botnets to focus on cryptojacking instead. Say goodbye to raucous rampages and hello to silent mining operations. It seems like many well-known botnet operators are now prioritizing this low-risk, high-reward approach.

The Downside of Cryptojacking

While it may sound like a plausible get-rich-quick scheme for cybercriminals, the downside is that cryptojacking’s potential for detection is practically non-existent. When done right, it’s as if the infected machines are just having a mid-life crisis. They grind away, invisible to their users and the law. However, if you suspect foul play, you might notice your device suddenly gets slower or turns into a sluggish lump of hardware.

What Lies Ahead?

The November crypto market crash has left many experts contemplating the future of cryptojacking. Will it take the backseat once again? Only time will tell, but with the potential for profit remaining high, the persistence of these stealthy attacks isn’t going away anytime soon. In mid-November, McAfee Labs even disclosed the emergence of new Russia-made mining malware utilizing consumer devices to mine Monero, operating under the radar.