[2016-12-05]Malware Proteus can act as a cryptocurrency miner

[Alex077]

Researchers of Fortinet have discovered a new stirps of multi-functional malware that can convert contaminated PC into proxy servers, to "produce" various types of cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Zcash, etc.), capture keystrokes and examine the actuality of stolen accounts...https://bit.news/eng/malware-proteus-can-act-cryptocurrency-miner/

[1713897005]

1713897005

[Kprawn]

Researchers of Fortinet have discovered a new stirps of multi-functional malware that can convert contaminated PC into proxy servers, to "produce" various types of cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Zcash, etc.), capture keystrokes and examine the actuality of stolen accounts...https://bit.news/eng/malware-proteus-can-act-cryptocurrency-miner/

I think the worst case we had, was when Bitcoin mining Malware infected Seagate NAS software and once when it was used to mine Alt coins

when people downloaded pirated games from P2P networks. We should always make sure that we are using only legit software.. downloaded

from verified sources. I use a multi-boot OS configuration for all the different things I do, so I just between OS's and never run one OS for

long periods. So they will mine very little Alt coins from my setup..  { I also use VMware/Virtual machines }

[Illab]

Bad news. It it is good to be informed! Thanks
http://manual-removal.com/mse-tech-support-scam/

[Karartma1]

Researchers of Fortinet have discovered a new stirps of multi-functional malware that can convert contaminated PC into proxy servers, to "produce" various types of cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Litecoin, Zcash, etc.), capture keystrokes and examine the actuality of stolen accounts...https://bit.news/eng/malware-proteus-can-act-cryptocurrency-miner/

I think the worst case we had, was when Bitcoin mining Malware infected Seagate NAS software and once when it was used to mine Alt coins

when people downloaded pirated games from P2P networks. We should always make sure that we are using only legit software.. downloaded

from verified sources. I use a multi-boot OS configuration for all the different things I do, so I just between OS's and never run one OS for

long periods. So they will mine very little Alt coins from my setup..  { I also use VMware/Virtual machines }

I consider myself quite tech savvy but I have to admit that I don't always check downloaded files if they come from "trusted" sources. I mean if I have to  enter that level of paranoia, like when I was using Comodo Internet Security with HIPS (god forgive me), I will stop using a computer.
I'll keep my eyes open

[yayayo]

Malware that mines Bitcoin exists since years. It surprises me that given the high difficulties we have, it still seems to be worthwhile on normal CPU's. But maybe it is able to mine with everything it finds - maybe even ASIC's. The new malware seems to be some kind of a Swiss army knife of all functions that have been used to steal cryptocurrencies. The only thing that's apparently missing is locking down the PC to extort payments... 

Cryptocurrencies are a highly attractive target for malware developers, because they represent direct proceeds and can be moved easily around the world. So we will see a lot of new malware in the coming years targeting Bitcoin users. Hopefully, users are sufficiently aware of it and have good security practices in place.

ya.ya.yo!

[just_Alice]

Malware that mines Bitcoin exists since years. It surprises me that given the high difficulties we have, it still seems to be worthwhile on normal CPU's. But maybe it is able to mine with everything it finds - maybe even ASIC's. The new malware seems to be some kind of a Swiss army knife of all functions that have been used to steal cryptocurrencies. The only thing that's apparently missing is locking down the PC to extort payments... 

Cryptocurrencies are a highly attractive target for malware developers, because they represent direct proceeds and can be moved easily around the world. So we will see a lot of new malware in the coming years targeting Bitcoin users. Hopefully, users are sufficiently aware of it and have good security practices in place.

ya.ya.yo!

I think they use thousands of infected computers and that's why it is still worthwhile. It will always be worthwhile that way. As far as I understand from the article this Proteus is also stealing usernames, passwords and email addresses. That's even worse than just use your computer for mining coins.

[Kprawn]

Malware that mines Bitcoin exists since years. It surprises me that given the high difficulties we have, it still seems to be worthwhile on normal CPU's. But maybe it is able to mine with everything it finds - maybe even ASIC's. The new malware seems to be some kind of a Swiss army knife of all functions that have been used to steal cryptocurrencies. The only thing that's apparently missing is locking down the PC to extort payments... 

Cryptocurrencies are a highly attractive target for malware developers, because they represent direct proceeds and can be moved easily around the world. So we will see a lot of new malware in the coming years targeting Bitcoin users. Hopefully, users are sufficiently aware of it and have good security practices in place.

ya.ya.yo!

I was thinking the same thing, but if you can "hijack" a BotNet of say 1 000 000 devices and somehow link them together and mine a Alt coin,

you might actually make some money. There are 1.3 billion devices running Android.... and 297 million running iOS/OS X and also 283 million

running Windows in 2015. So it is not highly unlikely that you would be able to get a fair share of that with a good Malware.  ... You can

even just use a small percentage of their hashing power, if you want to hide your activity. 

[Lucius]

It seems that many have a variety of malicious programs on their devices without even being aware of that.Somewhere I read that the most powerful computer in the world is actually in the hands of hackers and is made up of an undetermined number of hacked computers.They see opportunity in cryptocurrency and now we have malware which can mine coins operating in our devices.

Good Antivirus+Firewall and extra anti-malware protection are essential for the use of the Internet,and of course common sense and thinking on what to click and what should be avoided at all costs.