{"id":120094,"date":"2021-04-15T09:00:18","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T16:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"\/blogs\/?p=120094"},"modified":"2025-05-20T19:32:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T02:32:48","slug":"why-coin-miners-go-bad-how-to-protect-your-tech-when-they-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/internet-security\/why-coin-miners-go-bad-how-to-protect-your-tech-when-they-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Coin Miners Go Bad & How to Protect Your Tech When They Do"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts are flocking to the Wild West of Bitcoin and\u00a0<\/span>Monero<\/span>\u00a0to cash in on the\u00a0<\/span>recent\u00a0<\/span>gold rush.\u00a0<\/span>Bitcoin\u2019s meteoric rise in value<\/span>\u00a0is making\u00a0<\/span>coin mining<\/span>\u00a0an appealing hobby or<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>even\u00a0<\/span>a whole\u00a0<\/span>new career<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Coin min<\/span>ing software is<\/span>\u00a0the main<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>tool in a\u00a0<\/span>prospector\u2019s belt<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some coin\u00a0<\/span>miners<\/span>, also known as cryptocurrency miners,<\/span>\u00a0are tempted by the dark side of the industry and resort to nefarious means to harness the immense computing power\u00a0<\/span>needed for\u00a0<\/span>cryptocurrency\u00a0<\/span>profits.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Greedy cryptocurrency criminals employ<\/span>\u00a0a practice called<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>cryptojacking<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>steal<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0the computer power of unsuspecting devices to help them mine faster. Y<\/span>our device could be at risk at being recruited to their efforts.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s dig into<\/span>\u00a0how coin mining programs work, wh<\/span>y<\/span>\u00a0they turn malicious<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and how you can\u00a0<\/span>stay safe from\u00a0<\/span>cryptojackers<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Coin Mining Works<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Mining cryptocurrency<\/span>\u00a0takes a lot of time and computer processing power.\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span>\u00a0coin mining home setup<\/span>\u00a0requires<\/span>\u00a0a graphics processing unit (GPU) or an application-specific integrated\u00a0<\/span>circuit (ASIC).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Coin mining\u00a0<\/span>software\u00a0<\/span>then run<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0off the GPU or ASIC.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Each central processing unit<\/span>\u00a0(CPU), or the brain of the computer<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0plus the GPU or ASIC<\/span>\u00a0is referred to as a mining rig.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once the software is installed,\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>he\u00a0<\/span>rig<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is ready to mine<\/span>, running\u00a0<\/span>mathematical calculations to verify and col<\/span>lect new\u00a0<\/span>cryptocurrency\u00a0<\/span>transactions. Each calculation is known as a hash, and hash rates are the number of calculations that can be run per\u00a0<\/span>second.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From there, casual miners\u00a0<\/span>may<\/span>\u00a0choose to join a mining pool, which is a club of miners who agree to consolidate their\u00a0<\/span>computing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>power and split the profits based on how much work each miner contributed to the output.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bitcoin rewards miners every\u00a0<\/span>10<\/span>\u00a0minutes f<\/span>or their efforts<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Each time miners solve a string of mathematical puzzles, they\u00a0<\/span>validate a<\/span>\u00a0chain of transactions<\/span>, thus helping make the entire Bitcoin system more secure<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>M<\/span>iners are paid in bitcoin and they also receive a transactional fee.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wh<\/span><\/b>y<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Coin Mining Turns Malicious<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

While coin<\/span>\u00a0min<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0typically starts off as a casual hobby, coin mining<\/span>\u00a0programs<\/span>\u00a0can<\/span>\u00a0turn malicious when\u00a0<\/span>cryptocurrency<\/span>\u00a0miners want to earn more without investing in boosting their own computing power. Instead, they<\/span>\u00a0reroute\u00a0<\/span>their\u00a0<\/span>targets<\/span>\u2019<\/span>\u00a0computing power without asking.<\/span>\u00a0This is called\u00a0<\/span>cryptojacking<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mining requires incredible amounts of electricity and the more\u00a0<\/span>rig<\/span>s\u00a0<\/span>involved;<\/span>\u00a0the more cryptocurrency can be mined. Usually, the utility bills and the cost of running coin mining software negates any profit.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>For example, a casual miner may have o<\/span>ne\u00a0<\/span>rig<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>devoted to mining.\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span>n average\u00a0<\/span>rig<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>processes<\/span>\u00a0approximately 500 hashes per second on the\u00a0<\/span>Monero<\/span>\u00a0network<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>(a type of cryptocurrency<\/span>)<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0However, 500<\/span>\u00a0hashes per second\u00a0<\/span>translates to<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>less than a dollar<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>per week\u00a0<\/span>in traditional, or fiat, currency.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Greedy\u00a0<\/span>cryptocurrency<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>criminals<\/span>\u00a0recruit CPU soldiers to their mining army<\/span>\u00a0to improve their hash rate<\/span>. To do so,\u00a0<\/span>criminals<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>download coin mining software to a device and then program it to report back\u00a0<\/span>to their server. The device\u2019s thinking power is\u00a0<\/span>diverted<\/span>\u00a0from\u00a0<\/span>the owner and funneled straight<\/span>\u00a0to the\u00a0<\/span>criminal\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>server that now controls it.\u00a0<\/span>Compromised<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>device<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0run considerably slower and\u00a0<\/span>can\u00a0<\/span>overheat<\/span>, and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>strain on\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0device\u00a0<\/span>can\u00a0<\/span>eventually destroy it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Stay Safe from\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Cryptojacking<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

C<\/span>ryptojackers<\/span>\u00a0are<\/span>\u00a0not your everyday<\/span>\u00a0thieves<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>heir target is your CPU power<\/span>, and they employ\u00a0<\/span>devious<\/span>\u00a0methods to funnel it for their own use. Luckily, there are a few easy ways\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0thwart their efforts:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Beware of p<\/span><\/b>hishing<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Personal devices are often infected through phishing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>within emails<\/span>\u00a0and texts<\/span>. There are\u00a0<\/span>many\u00a0<\/span>tell-tale signs of a phishing\u00a0<\/span>message<\/span><\/a>. For example, they are often poorly written and\u00a0<\/span>use language that indicates\u00a0<\/span>that the sender\u00a0<\/span>want<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0a hasty\u00a0<\/span>response<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Also, phishing attempts often charade as official organizations, like banks and credit card companies.<\/span>\u00a0If you are ever suspicious of a<\/span>n email or text,<\/span>\u00a0do not open any of the links and do not reply. Instead,\u00a0<\/span>contact the organization\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>customer\u00a0<\/span>support\u00a0<\/span>to verify<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>legitimacy of the\u00a0<\/span>message<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Use a<\/span><\/b>d blockers<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Another way\u00a0<\/span>miners<\/span>\u00a0gain access to personal devices is\u00a0<\/span>by\u00a0<\/span>camouflag<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0malicious code in pop-up ads.<\/span>\u00a0An easy way to\u00a0<\/span>avoid being\u00a0<\/span>cryp<\/span>t<\/span>ojacked<\/span>\u00a0is to simply never click on\u00a0<\/span>these ads<\/span>. Or even better, install an ad blocker<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>help\u00a0<\/span>eliminate the risk<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. <\/span><\/b>Connect to a\u00a0<\/span><\/b>VPN<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Public wi-fi\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0poorly protected\u00a0<\/span>networks\u00a0<\/span>present a\u00a0<\/span>vulnerable entry point<\/span>\u00a0for<\/span>\u00a0cybercriminals<\/span>\u00a0to hack into your device<\/span>s<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Cybercriminals often attempt to\u00a0<\/span>download software remotely to your laptop, desktop<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>or mobile<\/span>\u00a0device<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0reroute\u00a0<\/span>its<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>computing\u00a0<\/span>power\u00a0<\/span>for\u00a0<\/span>their own selfish gains.\u00a0<\/span>Always connect to a VPN like\u00a0<\/span>McAfee Safe Connect VPN<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>safely\u00a0<\/span>surf\u00a0<\/span>unsecure networks.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. <\/span><\/b>Run a<\/span><\/b>ntivirus software<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

C<\/span>ryptojacking<\/span>\u00a0code is inconspicuous<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>generally\u00a0<\/span>hidden in<\/span>\u00a0legitimate code<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Antivirus software<\/span>, such as\u00a0<\/span>McAfee Total Protection<\/span><\/a>,<\/span>\u00a0is a recommended way to proactively\u00a0<\/span>scan for malware and even identify fraudulent websites.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>McAfee\u00a0<\/span>WebAdvisor<\/span><\/a>\u00a0has a Chrome extension that<\/span>\u00a0specifically<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>blocks\u00a0<\/span>cryptojackers<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Monitor your devices<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

B<\/span>e aware of the signs your devices have been\u00a0<\/span>cryptojacked<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>For example, monitor\u00a0<\/span>any changes in the speed of your devices<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0check out your utility bills for dramatic spikes.\u00a0<\/span>By r<\/span>emain<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0vigilant<\/span>\u00a0with these tips, you will<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>keep your devices safe from cryptocurrency miners gone\u00a0<\/span>rogue<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stay Updated<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

To stay updated on all things\u00a0<\/span>McAfee<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and on top of the latest consumer and mobile security threats, follow\u00a0<\/span>@McAfee_Home<\/span><\/a>\u00a0on Twitter, subscribe to our\u00a0<\/span>email<\/span><\/a>, listen to our podcast\u00a0<\/span>Hackable?<\/span><\/a>, and \u2018Like\u2019 us on\u00a0<\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts are flocking to the Wild West of Bitcoin and\u00a0Monero\u00a0to cash in on the\u00a0recent\u00a0gold rush.\u00a0Bitcoin\u2019s meteoric rise in value\u00a0is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1228,"featured_media":120109,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10670,10661],"tags":[5219,7768,5220,5658],"coauthors":[7231],"class_list":["post-120094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips-tricks","category-internet-security","tag-bitcoin","tag-coin-mining","tag-cryptocurrency","tag-cryptojacking"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhy Coin Miners Go Bad & How to Protect Your Tech When They Do | McAfee Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Cryptocurrency enthusiasts are flocking to the Wild West of Bitcoin and\u00a0Monero\u00a0to cash in on the\u00a0recent\u00a0gold 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