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What is Cryptojacking?​

Cryptojacking is the unauthorized use of someone else's computer to mine Cryptocurrency.

In simpler terms, it's like a digital parasite: an attacker secretly hijacks a victim's computing power (CPU or GPU) to generate cryptocurrency for themselves, without the victim's knowledge or consent.

Here's a breakdown:
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  1. The Goal: The ultimate aim for the attacker is to generate cryptocurrency (like Monero, Ethereum, or others) without incurring the significant costs associated with legitimate mining (electricity, specialized hardware, cooling).
  2. How it Works (Two main methods):
    • Browser-Based (Malicious JavaScript):
      • An attacker injects a malicious JavaScript code onto a website.
      • When a victim visits that website (or even just keeps the tab open), the script automatically runs in their browser.
      • This script then uses the victim's computer resources (CPU, sometimes GPU) to mine cryptocurrency for the attacker.
      • This often stops as soon as the victim closes the tab or navigates away.
    • Malware-Based (Installed Software):
      • The attacker tricks the victim into downloading and installing malware onto their computer (e.g., through phishing emails, malicious apps, infected downloads).
      • Once installed, this malware runs in the background, continuously using the computer's resources to mine cryptocurrency, even when the victim isn't browsing the web. This is more persistent and harder to remove.
  3. Why Attackers Do It:
    • Cost Savings: They don't pay for electricity, hardware, or cooling – the victim does.
    • Anonymity: It's harder to trace the attacker's activities directly.
    • Scalability: They can leverage hundreds, thousands, or even millions of devices simultaneously.
  4. Impact on the Victim:
    • Slow Performance: Your computer, phone, or tablet will run noticeably slower.
    • Overheating: The device's CPU/GPU working at full capacity can cause it to get very hot, leading to fan noise.
    • Increased Electricity Bills: Especially with malware-based cryptojacking, your power consumption will go up.
    • Reduced Battery Life: For laptops and mobile devices, the battery will drain much faster.
    • Hardware Damage: Long-term, sustained overexertion can shorten the lifespan of components.
    • System Instability: Crashes or freezes due to resource exhaustion.
  5. Detection and Prevention:
    • Monitor Performance: Keep an eye on your CPU usage in Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS). Unexplained high usage, especially from your browser, can be a sign.
    • Use Ad Blockers/Script Blockers: Many ad blockers can also prevent cryptojacking scripts from running. There are also specific browser extensions designed to detect and block cryptojackers.
    • Antivirus/Anti-Malware Software: Keep it updated and perform regular scans to catch installed cryptojacking malware.
    • Keep Software Updated: Browser, operating system, and all applications should be patched regularly to close security vulnerabilities.
    • Be Skeptical: Avoid suspicious links, email attachments, and downloads from untrusted sources.
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Cryptojacking is a silent form of cybercrime because it doesn't typically steal personal data or display obvious ransomware demands; it simply steals your device's processing power.