According to Atlas VPN analysts, in the first half of 2021, cryptojacking programs were identified on 74,490 devices.
The MalXMR malware is recognized as the leader in the rating of cryptojacking programs. In the first half of the year, 44,587 devices were infected with this hidden mining application. The program exploits the Windows vulnerability through the EternalBlue exploit and mines crypto assets.
CoinMiner became the second most popular. Malware was detected on 8,533 devices. The program infiltrates the victim’s equipment through counterfeiting licensed applications from unofficial sources. Malicious apps have also been found on the Google Play Store. Mobile devices infected with Coinminer often overheat and fail.
The third place among cryptojacking programs is taken by the hidden mining application Monero ToolXMR. The hidden miner was discovered on 6,419 devices. This program extracts cryptocurrency and sends it to the attacker’s wallet.
The fact that hidden mining programs steal the computing power of the device, reduce performance, have a harmful effect on the technical and increase the cost of electricity is just the tip of the iceberg. The hidden threat is that cryptojacking software will make it easier for cybercriminals to conduct cyberattacks and steal victim’s data in the future.
Hidden mining is highly beneficial for cybercriminals. It brings a stable profit in cryptocurrency, which, thanks to anonymity, allows the hacker to remain undetected. Various types of hidden mining programs turn devices into machines for generating cryptocurrency. As a result, the operating speed of devices decreases, this brings inconvenience to the owner and losses, especially when it comes to equipment built into business processes.
In January 2020, IT security company Check Point noted in a report the dominance of cryptojacking among cyberattacks and predicted an increase in the distribution of software for hidden cryptocurrency mining in cloud infrastructures.
