Cyber security basics: All about cryptojacking

The internet is a fascinating platform hosting various platforms to facilitate interconnectivity between people worldwide. However, this brought a few dangers users need to be aware of. Cryptojacking is one such danger enabled by the world wide web.

Cryptojacking was popularised during the dawn of Bitcoin (BTC) and its increasing demand for processing power. Miners traditionally meet those demands by creating powerful processing rigs. However, hardware needed to make one as well as the electricity bill for keeping them active 24/7 reach a high cost. 

Miners can cover those costs using the BTC they mined from a block. Others form a pool where everyone shares their rigs’ power and the profit is divided based on individual contribution. Then there are some miners who use other people’s devices to provide the processing power without their consent or knowledge. This action is called ‘cryptojacking’ and here’s everything you need to know about it. 

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What is cryptojacking?

Cryptojacking is the act of using a piece of hardware remotely to provide processing power needed to mine Bitcoin blocks. It is conceptually harmless because most victims don’t know that they are subject to it but it is a crime with huge potential to cause serious damage. One of the popular answers to “what is cryptojacking?” is that it is a breach of privacy because it invades users’ devices which contain valuable information like your identity. 

How does it work?

Cryptojacking attacks are done by computer viruses. The perpetrator plants these scripts into hyperlinks that download files once you click on them or when you visit a website. Opening that file will automatically install a cryptojacking malware into your device that will make it subject to the perpetrator's control. Once in, your hardware will start working beyond what you require because it is now mining cryptocurrencies in the Bitcoin blockchain. 

Most cryptojacking malware is designed only to mine crypto and are usually automated like a standard mining rig. The difference is that a smartphone offers a smaller processing power, far from what the cybercriminal needs. A cyberjacker has to install that malware into hundreds if not thousands of devices to be successful. 

Thus, the virus is typically not designed for micro-management and is usually hidden in accessible but not protected web pages. They can also appear in spam mails, social media posts/comments, or forum threads as means to find more victims. 

Why would people do this?

Building a mining rig and paying for the electricity bills to power it 24/7 can be costly. It is a huge factor in the world’s power consumption, forcing miners to rely solely on fossil fuels because it’s cheaper. Successful mining frequently has to cover those expenses, leaving only a small profit. 

Cryptojacking is an attempt to minimise or eliminate that expense by making strangers like you pay for it without you knowing. The miner only needs the victims to remain connected to the internet which is easily done today with mobile data and 5G Wi-Fi. Smartphones and tablets can stay on indefinitely until they reach the end of their service life. 

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How to detect cryptojacking?

Cryptojacking detection measures are straightforward. Even a child can run these diagnostics because all it takes is simple observation of your device. If you clarify that these signs are positive, then consult a technician for a second opinion and their suggestion for a solution.

Your device overheats when you least expect it 

Any electronic device generates heat whenever they are in use. Sometimes, they’d reach harmful temperatures because of the type of work you have to do using them. Such cases only happen when you are giving them tasks that require high processing power. It is unexpected that they start heating up and draining your battery once you turn on the wifi and just leave the device on sleep mode. If you feel that it’s hot in this state, then it is most probably a victim of cryptojacking attacks. 

Performance slows down despite your device’s capabilities

Smartphone devices are known to slow down their performance after a long time of service or at least until their next update. This shouldn’t be the case if you only have it for less than 3 years and when there are no other apps running besides the one you are using. 

All of its CPU should be focused on the task at hand, making lags and slow loading times dead giveaway of a cyberjacking attack. A slow webpage can be an issue with the internet provider but failing to open/close an app or prompts to force close the device’s launcher are serious signs to consider. 

Pop-ups or ads appearing even outside of an app

Exploring the internet will get you accustomed to a lot of pop-up prompts or ad banners on web pages. They’re distracting at best and outright intrusive at worst but their presence can also be signs of cryptojacking attacks. Normally a cryptojacker would want to stay hidden but some figured that their malware won’t stay long thanks to modern antivirus software. 

Thus, they’d try to offer your products and services through ads phishing for your information using a pop-up prompt. It’s done under the assumption that if you made the mistake of installing a cryptojacking malware then you can make another mistake by trusting what they offer. 

How to prevent cryptojacking? 

The best way to avoid all forms of cybercrime is to increase your understanding of computers and the internet. Fortunately, prevention can be done using the standard safety protocols of a responsible internet user. Here are the three basics that you need to know to avoid getting a cryptojacking malware into your system:

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Avoid clicking on links from spam mails or old web pages

Spam mails tend to come from sources that you never cared about in the first place, making it easy to ignore them for the most part. However, some can be convincing or enticing enough to get your attention. 

Verify the source of the mail then search if there are other offers like it on Google. Find other people discussing it on social media or forums to see how legitimate they are as a business. This is how you use the internet to combat cybercriminals. 

Old web pages are often left unattended by their original owners because they have moved on to different business ventures. In the best case, it would be revived by a different company that aims to continue what it was initially intended for or repurpose what’s left to serve a new business. If you see that its last update was from a year ago or older, then it's most likely infected by now.

Cybercriminals replace existing hyperlinks or add their own using the webpage’s former glory as the bait. You can easily fall for any of these because the internet is great at archiving old content. Some pages just remain existing because the previous owners were irresponsible enough to just abandon them without a formal goodbye to announce their departure. 

Links can still work on these websites and clicking on them is usually the only way to navigate the website. If you really need to try them out, then at least have an antivirus active. Any files downloaded from these links, especially if they are .exe launchers, are dangerous. Delete all of them and stop browsing the website once you get one. 

Rely on trusted download mediums only

All web browsers allow direct download from the source to your disk drive but such a medium is unprotected most of the time. It’s better to download them through a third-party service. Trusted ones include μTorrent and Download.com. You may also use an extension on your browser to have a filter ready to scan your downloads.

For app installation, don’t trust any source outside of Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Microsoft Store unless you have the time to verify other mediums. Some of the popular non-default distributors include Softonic and FileHippo can also be within your list of safe picks but they are more troublesome to use. 

Using a third-party download medium or scanning service tends to make your downloads longer and more tedious. It’s a small price to pay for keeping your device safe from all forms of cybercrime like cryptojacking malware. 

Stay updated with the latest cyber security trends

Knowledge is power and the internet can help you access everything you need to know. You can use Google and social media besides verifying a dubious source which is to keep new information flowing towards you. Make it a habit to read cyber security blogs, news, and updates to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. Cryptojacking is rarely covered because this crime is becoming harder to do thanks to increased literacy in crypto technology but they can still happen. 

Take away

The dangers of cryptojacking are apparent online for as long as blockchains for valuable assets like Bitcoin (BTC) need mining. You can be subject to this at the cost of your phone or computer’s processing power but without the benefit of getting BTC because of malware. Fortunately, there are ways to detect such invasions as well as means to defend against them. Stay safe from cryptojacking attacks with this new knowledge. 

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Words: Clarence Clarke