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McAfee Labs is known for their security software that has been highly appreciated since consumers have started using the Internet. It should come as no surprise that their latest press release shows that they have discovered new malware from cryptocurrency hackers. Instead of stealing the personal information of investors and investor portfolios, the malware connects directly to the user's device to extract Monero (XMR).
The malware is called "WebCobra" and it is believed that the program came from Russia. When a device downloads it, the processor of the infected device generates coins. It works almost perfectly in the background, so most of the infected users do not even realize that it has been downloaded. The only real difference is the performance of the hardware, considering that the battery will run out much sooner.
On the official press release of the McAfee website, researchers Kapil Khade and Xiaobing Lin commented,
"Coin-mining malware is hard to detect." Once a machine is compromised, a malicious app runs automatically in the background with only one sign: reduced performance. "As malware increases power consumption, the car slows down, leaving the owner a headache and an unwanted bill, since the energy needed to extract a single bitcoin can cost from $ 531 to $ 26,170, according to a recent report. "
McAfee attributes "the increased value of cryptocurrencies" as the reason why so many online hackers used malware to steal resources and undermine coins. Recently, in a CoinTelegraph report, the press agency estimated that 2018 had increased by 500% of malware downloads.
The researchers concluded their relationship with a realistic view of the continuation of these types of attacks and how cybercriminals will continue to make progress.
The report says,
"Coin-mining malware will continue to evolve as cybercriminals take advantage of this relatively easy path to steal value Mining coins on other people's systems require less investment and risk than ransomware and do not depend on a percentage of victims who They agree to send money, and as long as users do not learn that they are supporting criminal miners, they have a lot to gain. "
Neil Jenkins, a principal analyst of the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA), said that a loss in Microsoft's Windows operating system, a vulnerability called Eternal Blue, is the cause of these widespread cyber attacks.
He said:
"A patch for EternalBlue has been available for 18 months and, even after being exploited in two major global cyber attacks – WannaCry and NotPetya – there are still countless organizations that have been victims of this exploit, as they are being used by mining malware."
However, Microsoft had no responsibility, saying instead that the NSA was responsible, considering their "stock" of cyber weapons.
Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer of Microsoft, said:
"This attack provides another example of why the accumulation of vulnerability by governments is such a problem." Repeatedly, exploits in the hands of governments have been leaked into the public domain and have caused widespread damage. "
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