 |
| Hackers use games to mine Monero |
According to a study published by security company Avast, cybercriminals target gamers and gamers who exploit malware because they want to get rich with cryptocurrencies.
Crackonosh malware is hidden in free versions of games like NBA 2K19, Grand Theft Auto V, Far Cry 5, The Sims 4 and Jurassic World Evolution that can be downloaded through torrent sites.
Once installed, Crackonosh uses the computing power of the computer to mine the hackers' cryptocurrency.
According to Avast, the malware has been used to create Monero, a $2 million cryptocurrency, since at least June 2018.
Infected users may not notice that their computers slow down due to overuse. Although the electric bill may be higher than usual.
It needs all the resources available to the computer so that the computer does not respond to commands.
About 220,000 users worldwide are infected and 800 devices are infected every day.
Pirates use the game
Avast only detects malware on devices that have an antivirus installed, so the actual number could be much higher.
Brazil, India and the Philippines are among the worst affected countries, with many cases in the United States as well.
Once installed, the researchers say, Crackonosh will take several steps to protect itself, including disabling Windows updates and uninstalling security software.
As for the source of the malware, Avast believes the author may be Czech.
After customers reported a lack of antivirus software on their systems, Avast detected the malware. The company said it was investigating this report and other similar matters.
Crackonosh explained the dangers of pirated downloads and showed that it can be very profitable for attackers. As long as people download stolen software, these attacks always pay off for the attackers.
And they say it's not the first time malware has attacked the game, Cisco researchers discovered cheating malware in several games in March.
Meanwhile, a new hacking campaign targeted Steam games and gamers earlier this month.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the number of cyberattacks against players has increased by 340%.