Crypto jacking: When your PC calculates for other people's cash registers
As the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center reports, cybercriminals use web browsers to use hidden mining software to unnoticedly win crypto coins from other people's PCs.
Consumers use their computing power and therefore a lot of electricity to pay for third-party cryptocurrencies - often without knowing about it. All you have to do is visit the websites.
Secretly mining cryptocurrency
So-called crypto miners, which are hidden programs on web servers, can mine cryptocurrencies in the browser. All it takes is for consumers to access the websites. What is worrying is that the programs are often executed without the surfers' knowledge. Consumers use their computing power to pay for third-party cryptocurrencies, warns the market watchdog team at the Bavarian Consumer Center.
Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Monero are currently reaching dizzying values. They are speculated on like stocks. They are made by solving increasingly complex calculation problems. This now costs a lot of computing power and therefore electricity, so that the production is sometimes more expensive than the yield.
The consumer bears the costs for processor performance and electricity
This has encouraged clever fraudsters to come up with a new scam. Using a computer program located on web servers, they mine cryptocurrencies at the expense of others. Every time a consumer accesses a website with such a program, part of their computing power is used for the calculations - and often without their knowledge. The fraudsters receive the profit, while the consumer bears the costs for processor performance and electricity.
Crypto Jacking: Mining programs are undetectable to consumers
These programs can be installed both by the site operators and by third parties who exploit poorly secured web servers. Consumers can therefore also come across the malware on completely unsuspicious sites. For example, there was a crypto miner on the abi-physik.de site on January 10, 2018. This was discovered by a student from Schleswig-Holstein and his teacher by evaluating the virus scanner logs.
Crypto Jacking: How to Protect Yourself from Hidden Crypto Mining
Surf carefully:
If your processor is under heavy load when surfing the Internet, you should pay attention: This can be noticeable, for example, in your system no longer running smoothly, the fans turning up or your device becoming hot.
Miner blocker:
To protect yourself from hidden mining software in the web browser, additional programs can be installed in common browsers such as Chrome and Firefox that block such programs.
Up-to-date virus software:
Always keep your anti-virus software up to date. New virus programs usually detect clandestine cryptocurrency mining and raise the alarm.
Disable Java Script:
Many miners require Java Script. If you disable this in your browser, the miners will no longer be able to work. However, many other applications also require Java Script and this can lead to problems with other sites.
Ad blockers:
Some AdBlockers offer configurable filter lists. These often also offer a list of sites that are known for crypto jacking.
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

