What Is Cryptojacking And How To Avoid It?

Cryptojacking malware can take over a victim's computer and steal its resources. But how to detect it?

Criminals use all kinds of means to achieve their evil goals. The world of cryptocurrency is also one of their targets. A new criminal tactic has emerged in the form of an online threat known as cryptojacking. So what is cryptojacking and how does it work? We will find out all that in this article.

What is Cryptojacking?

Cryptojacking is an emerging form of cybercrime that involves the unauthorized use of computers and their resources to mine cryptocurrencies, usually without the user's knowledge.

Cryptocurrency is a form of digital money created using cryptographic tokens. Cryptocurrencies were created as a better alternative to paper money. Many cybercriminals use cryptojacking to take advantage of the increasing use of cryptocurrencies.

How Does Cryptojacking Work?

Cryptojackers access devices by different methods. One of the most frequently used methods is to use malware. Malicious software infects the device after the victim clicks on a malicious link on a website or email. This will cause the victim to download the crypto mining code directly to their device. Once the malware takes possession of the computer, unauthorized mining of cryptocurrency begins without the victim's knowledge.

Another method of cryptojacking is known as 'drive-by' crypto mining. Similar to ad exploits, this scheme operates by embedding a piece of JavaScript code into a website. The malware infects the devices of people who visit the site, then makes those devices a part of the cryptocurrency mining process.

Unfortunately, cryptojacking doesn't just happen to computers. These threats also not only take over web browsers, but can also harm all types of devices, from desktops and laptops to smartphones and network servers, as such malware usually has the ability to remain undetected. So is there a way to detect it?

How to Detect Cryptojacking?

Even though the malware performs all its actions silently on the victim's device, the victim may start to notice a slower computer performance. This is a real sign that something unpleasant may be going on.

 1. CPU usage spikes. Because cryptomining is a major consumer of resources. You can use this knowledge to detect cryptojacking by monitoring spikes in your CPU and setting alerts when CPU usage exceeds a certain percentage on a machine that is not normally reached.

 2. Decreased performance. If you notice a decrease in performance on your computer, be sure to run a check. This includes desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. A slower system is usually the first sign that crypto mining is in progress.

 3. Overheating. The resource-intensive cryptojacking process can cause the device to overheat. This can eventually cause damage or shorten the life of your device.

How to Protect Computers From Cryptojacking?

It is important to take preventative steps before any of that happens. Because as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. This is especially important in the case of cryptojacking methods running inside the browser. Here are some tips to protect your computer from cryptojacking:

 1. Blacklisting domains. This is a good place to start, you can do it manually or by using third party software or plugins to do all the work. Many anti-virus solutions, such as Bitdefender, Avast, and MalwareBytes will automatically automatically block mining sites from accessing their domains and IPs.

 2. Use anti-cryptoming extensions. Cryptojacking scripts are often used in web browsers. Use browser extensions to block crypto miners all over the web such as minerBlock, No Coin, and Anti Miner.

 3. Disable JavaScript. When browsing, disabling JavaScript can prevent cryptojacking codes from infiltrating your computer. However, keep in mind that disabling JavaScript will simultaneously block many functions that you need while browsing.

Summary

So what is cryptojacking? Cryptojacking is a type of cybercrime that involves the unauthorized use of people's devices (computers, smartphones, tablets, or even servers) by cybercriminals to mine cryptocurrencies.

Now that you have a better understanding of cryptojacking, you should stay vigilant and if possible, increase the security of your computer. Because that way you will most likely avoid the risk of cryptojacking.

Unfortunately, cryptojacking doesn't just happen to computers. These threats also not only take over web browsers, but can also harm all types of devices, from desktops and laptops to smartphones and network servers, as such malware usually has the ability to remain undetected. So is there a way to detect it?

Hopefully, this article about What Is Cryptojacking And How To Avoid It?, gives you a little insight. Also, read an article about What Is CSRF Attack And How To Prevent It? that you may need to know. Thank you.