3/4 of the malware circulating are cryptocurrency miners

Three Monero cryptocurrency miners that target browsers rank first, second and fourth in the list of the 10 most active malware, according to a report by the company Check Point.

Τα Coinhive (κατατάσσεται # 1), Crypto-Loot (κατατάσσεται # 2), και JSEcoin (κατατάσσεται # 4) ξεπέρασαν ακόμα και τα μεγαλύτερα spam botnets. Πρόκειται για ηλεκτρονικές υπηρεσίες που χρησιμοποιούν διάφορα Javascripts και λειτουργούν σε ιστότοπους οι οποίοι κερδίσουν χρήματα χρησιμοποιώντας τους πόρους CPU των επισκεπτών προκειμένου να δημιουργήσουν Monero coins. Ενώ και οι τρεις είναι “νόμιμες” υπηρεσίες, τα JavaScript libraries που παρέχονται από αυτές έχουν επισημανθεί ως κακόβουλα. Ο κώδικας που περιέχουν έχει βρεθεί κρυφά σε hacked sites, μέσα σε εφαρμογές για κινητά, σε mods παιχνιδιών, σε λογισμικό υπολογιστών και σε πολλές άλλες λειτουργίες.

In the case of Check Point, the company says its security products have detected cryptojacking elements in 42% of its customers. Coinhive was the leader, with a share of 20%, followed by Crypto-Loot with 16%.

Currently, the best ways to stop websites from using your CPU to mine cryptocurrencies are to have an antivirus installed that monitors the operation of your browsers, or to use an Ad-block or MinerBlock extension in your browser.

WARNING: There are many fake Ad-blocks that promise to give you a solution to this problem but in reality they are essentially a cryptocurrency mining program deceiving users. Before you download or add any extension to your browser, make sure the developer and the source you obtain it from are trustworthy. Alternatively you can use browsers that have such functions pre‑installed, such as, for example, Opera.

Below you can see the top 10 and top 3 malware according to Check Point.

Windows Top 10

1. Coinhive – in-browser cryptocurrency miner
2. Crypto-Loot – in-browser cryptocurrency miner
3. RIG EK – exploit kit
4. JSEcoin – in-browser cryptocurrency miner
5. RoughTed – malvertising campaign
6. Fireball – Windows adware network
7. Necurs – spam botnet
8. Andromeda – malware downloader/botnet
9. Virut – multi-purpose malware botnet
10. Ramnit – banking trojan, malware downloader

              Android Top 3

1. Triada – Android banking trojan
2. Lokibot – Android banking trojan
3. Hiddad – Android adware