Hijacking computers to illegally mine cryptocurrencies has
overtaken ransomware as the biggest cyber threat in the Middle East, Turkey and
Africa, according to Kaspersky Lab.
Research by the Russian cyber-security firm shows crypto
mining attacks have risen almost fourfold in the region, from 3.5 million in
2017 to 13 million this year. Such incidents are likely to continue given the
increased use of digital currencies, Kaspersky said.
Cyber criminals can use malware to gain access to other
people’s computers and start running mining operations undetected in the
background, keeping any digital coins produced. Earlier this year, criminals
commandeered massive processing power to unlock new Monero coins, and in the
process unleashed an epidemic of malicious software.
“The META region is becoming more appealing to
cyber-criminals, with financial and malicious cryptomining attacks taking
center stage,” said Fabio Assolini, Kaspersky’s senior security researcher.
Such crimes are increasing because “mining is silent and causes less impact
that ransomware, making it less noticeable.”
Kaspersky is itself not without controversy. Last year, the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security banned use of its software by federal
agencies amid concerns about the company’s links to the Russian government.
Kaspersky challenged the ruling. A company official wasn’t immediately
available to comment today.
