Cryptomining is taking place behind popular free download games like Grand Theft Auto 5, NBN 2K19 and Pro Edition Soccer 2018. And hackers are doing so.
Cryptomining code is spread in the form of malware in many of the free games with the opportunity to download for free from various forums. Inside is a piece of crypto-mining malware called Kraconosh. According to Czech folklore, the word krackonosh means “the mountain spirit”.
Researchers at cybersecurity software company Avast have found evidence that cryptocurrencies are secretly mined using the spirit of this mountain when free games are downloaded.
According to their observations, hackers are rapidly spreading cracks through these “cracked” games. This stops Windows updates as well as uninstalls all security software. The cryptocurrency mining program then runs in the background on the device without the owner’s knowledge. Avast authorities have warned that this could slow down the work on their computers, cause overuse of various parts and increase electricity bills.
According to their calculations, criminals have already earned more than two million dollars in ‘Monroe’ cryptocurrency using this method.
Researchers have so far found the malware in more than a dozen countries. Of those, 18,448 were infected in the Philippines, 16,584 in Brazil, 13,779 in India, 12,727 in Poland, 11,856 in the United States and 8,946 in the United Kingdom, said Christopher Bud, an official with the Avast, an antivirus maker.
