Shortly after, the same exploit was used in the Petya ransomware outbreak, crippling more computers and networks in its wake. It can take only one affected user for the ransomware to infect more machines and systems as it moves through the network. Using EternalBlue, the attackers were able to propagate the ransomware across networks, without requiring any direct interaction with the users of other connected machines. MS17-010 SMB-related events, 2017Ī flaw in the SMB was exploited by the WannaCry ransomware. Furthermore, the many cryptocurrency-related hacks in recent years are elevating the conversations on the likelihood of international cryptocurrency regulation, which could entail stricter rules on exchange platforms for virtual currencies.įigure 4. After all, the anonymity afforded by cryptocurrencies already draws cybercriminals to use them to facilitate activities.Īside from use by cybercriminals, the volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market and growing public interest in its trade have attracted further government scrutiny. It is possible that we are seeing a lot of cryptocurrency mining events today because cybercriminals are exploring whether compromising home devices for financial gain is a plausible venture in the long run. That shroud of muted activity is just what cybercriminals want - small money generated per device, but when accumulated, might just be lucrative down the road. Unsuspecting users will not detect any visible indicators of suspicious activity in their devices, especially those with low user interaction like IP cameras, unless users take time to inspect their systems in case of a hike in electricity usage or frequent system crashes.
Unlike ransomware, which needs to actually engage the victim for the attack to pay off, unauthorized cryptocurrency mining is almost unnoticeable. Such malware can spread the same way other malware types spread, e.g., through spam emails and malicious URLs, and take advantage of the computing power of multiple devices to increase yield from mining.
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We already found a particular miner that first exploits a vulnerability then installs WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) scripts in order to download its coin-mining payload. Cryptocurrency-mining malware, for instance, are capable of infecting devices to illicitly mine for cryptocurrency. This has led to crackdowns on illicit crypto-mining through browser extension and built-in blockers.Ĭryptojacking is not limited to browsers. Many websites have been reported to be cryptojacking visitors, i.e., surreptitiously stealing resources from visitors’ computers to mine for cryptocurrencies. Think of it as an alternative revenue stream to intrusive online advertising, without user consent. One controversial reason is that some companies want to monetize their websites through their users’ CPU power by adding cryptocurrency mining scripts. So why is it that aside from PCs, IoT devices, which are relatively underpowered, are displaying mining activity? Compromised devices seen attempting to mine for cryptocurrencyĬryptocurrency mining is a computationally intensive task that requires a lot of processing power. Threats to Unsecured Home Routersįigure 2. More reports have even surfaced over the years of how hackers could break into home devices like baby monitors and smart TVs to remotely snoop on personal data or seize control of the devices themselves. The botnets harnessed vulnerable devices such as IP cameras and routers to cripple several networks and wreak significant downtime. Mirai, Persirai, and Reaper botnet attacks have already driven the point home: unsecured connected devices can be highly disruptive.
The sheer number of entry points can put the devices at the attackers’ mercy, either by locking them up with ransomware or even making them part of an army of botnets for distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
The current reality of having many internet-connected devices in the home, however, has given rise to another type of intruder - one whose point of entry is the home network, where connected devices are potentially open to compromise.
Home intrusions are often pictured in the form of physical break-ins.
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