Crypto-jacking: how cyber-criminals are exploiting the crypto-currency boom

Abstract

In a little under a decade, crypto-currency has developed from an esoteric experiment to one of the hottest topics in both the technology and finance fields. Since the emergence of Bitcoin as the first centralised crypto-currency in 2009, the industry has exploded and there are more than 1,500 different currencies now available. In a little under a decade, crypto currency has developed from an esoteric experiment to one of the hottest topics in both the technology and finance fields. Alas it has also led to crypto-jacking where a target's machine is infected with mining malware. Organisations must ensure that they are able to spot the signs and shut illegal miners down, if they don't want to suffer overtaxed networks and angry customers, explains Karl Sigler of SpiderLabs at Trustwave.