Avast Free Antivirus Can Help Against One of the Newest Cybersecurity Threats: CryptoJacking

Cryptojacking is one of the lesser-known cybersecurity menaces which only rears its head when it already starts slowing down operations on your device. This type of attack allows malicious agents to hijack the processing power of your computer in an unauthorized manner by mining cryptocurrency.

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The result is a slow-running system and increase in utility bills. Recognition and prevention of cryptojacking is very difficult, because cryptojacking is designed not to raise eyebrows. Knowing how it works is your first step in protecting your digital life.

How Cryptojacking Slows Your Device Down

Cryptojacking is an unobtrusive sort of attack, the presence of which users often will not notice until their devices go very slow. Using cryptojacking scripts, the attackers hijack your computer for cryptocurrency mining, thus leaving your system to operate at just a portion of its potential. The earliest clues can be pretty inescapable: your device may get sluggish, the fan is running noisily, or your battery doesn’t last as long as it should. With time, this will gradually deplete a computer’s resources and may eventually lead to poor performance and shorten the lifespan of a device.

Common Entry Points for Cryptojacking Attacks

• Malicious Websites (Drive-by Mining): Some websites have cryptojacking scripts that run in the background; the moment you open them, they start working. Such scripts use the processing of your system to mine cryptocurrency for as long as you stay on the page.
• Infected Ads (Malvertising): Infected advertisements could be showing up on legitimate sites. Upon clicking these ads, cryptojacking malware silently installs scripts on your device to mine cryptocurrency.
• Hidden Malware in Software or Browser Extensions: Cryptojacking malware can come from downloading unverified software or browser extensions. These programs run unobtrusively in the background, and for that very reason, users can’t detect that there is a problem.
• Phishing Attacks: Phishing emails deceive users into clicking malicious links or into downloading attachments with cryptojacking scripts. Once they’re installed, they’ll use system resources for mining operations.

Why Cryptojacking Is Hard to Detect

Cryptojacking does not lead to the theft of data or passwords, making it very undetectable by normal means of security. In 2023 alone, cryptojacking cases increased by 345% in the US and by 788% in Europe. This has made cryptojacking one of the most serious threats in individual and corporate cybersecurity. Without advanced cybersecurity tools, the majority of its victims only realize the issue when their device becomes too slow for them to operate effectively.

How Cryptojacking Disrupts Device Performance and Your Daily Life

Cryptojacking may seem pretty innocent at first, as it doesn’t actually steal sensitive information. However, its impact on your device can be serious. Among the most immediate effects is the degradation of performance. While cryptojacking scripts siphon off computer processing capacity, your system will slow down, become unresponsive, and frequently freeze. After some time, the load can even reduce the life of your hardware, which means expensive replacements or repairs.

Long-Term Financial and Security Risks from Cryptojacking

In the long term, it’s going to have a noticeable hit on your wallet. Increased use of your CPU means your device uses up more electricity and that’s not good for utility bills. For businesses in particular, this could amount to increased operational costs, because having several cryptojacked systems will use up a lot of network resources and put a strain on productivity.

Another important risk involves the security vulnerabilities opened up by cryptojacking. Those unauthorized programs on your system can be further utilized by a hacker, and this exposes your devices and data to more serious consequences.

Professional and Personal Scenarios

In businesses, cryptojacking will slow workflows and networks. If the security weaknesses that they exploited were eventually leveraged, that would expose compromising sensitive information. Productivity can plummet as employees experience long wait times and unresponsive applications.

Cryptojacking for personal day-to-day use leads to the rapid depletion of battery power on laptops and mobile devices. Even the most mundane tasks can become frustrating. Streaming, gaming, or even work, if your devices resources are getting siphoned off into underground activity, then that’s going to inevitably mean slower performance and shortened long-term battery life.

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Understanding the Causes of Cryptojacking

Cryptojacking is usually instigated through technical vulnerabilities and human error. Once exploited these weaknesses are used to carry out illegal cryptocurrency mining. Here is how you can take the initiative and safeguard your gadgets and networks.

Cryptojacking via Technical Vulnerabilities

Probably among the most common causes of cryptojacking when it comes to technical vulnerabilities is due to outdated software. Not having the latest security patches against known flaws can provide an entry point for hackers that allows them to insert cryptojacking malware onto your device. Outdated browsers are perhaps the most important to keep up to date when defending against Cryptojackers, especially if you rely on various plugins and extensions. Outdated plugins or extensions enable cryptojackers to run their scripts stealthily on your device without you noticing

Cryptojacking Caused by Human Error

Other cases of cryptojacking originate from simple human mistakes. Phishing emails and suspicious links continue to prevail as one of the main methodologies for hackers to deceive users into inadvertently downloading malware for cryptojacking. 

Malware may also be buried within unverified software or application downloads. Users who frequent unsafe websites often find malicious ads carrying cryptojacking scripts, which allow attackers to compromise their systems without their knowledge.

Rise in Cryptocurrency Popularity

The main reason for the rise in cryptojacking attacks has been simply due to the increased profitability of cryptocurrency. The huge value of these cryptocurrencies has consequently raised the motivation for cybercriminals to use cryptojacking malware. 

This technique provides a low-risk mechanism for the attacker to mine cryptocurrency without investing in expensive mining equipment or energy to mine the cryptocurrency. Taking into consideration how easily it can be deployed, with profitability, cryptojacking has become one of the most attractive options for hackers.

Actionable Best Practices to Prevent Cryptojacking

Due to their stealthy nature, taking proactive steps to protect your devices from cryptojacking is a necessity. By following certain best practices, one can minimize the risk for falling victim to cryptojacking attacks.

Keep Software Updated

Cryptojacking usually occurs through very outdated software. At a minimum, this makes patch updates for operating systems, browsers, and applications essential in closing up security gaps. Keeping automatic updates active as a way to provide yourself with an extra layer of protection against unpatched vulnerabilities.

Use a Secure Browser to Block Cryptojacking Attacks

A secure browser setup is able to enormously reduce the risk of your exposure to cryptojacking scripts. Switching off JavaScript on ‘untrusted’ websites reduces drive-by cryptojacking attempts. Never install extensions from sources which are not verified, this is because malicious plugins are a common gateway for cryptojacking malware.

As best practice we recommend you to use a reputable script blocker or change your browser’s settings to selectively block JavaScript on high risk sites.

Be Careful with Downloads

Cryptojacking malware can sometimes be bundled within unverified software which works as expected. Download applications only from trusted publishers, and make sure to scan new files for malware before running them.

Monitor Device Performance to Detect Cryptojacking Early

If your device suddenly starts acting sluggish, overheats, or shows high-watt usage, then this can indicate cryptojacking. CPU and GPU usage should be checked regularly, and look out for any programs you don’t recognize.

As best practice, we recommend you to use appropriate task managers or third-party tools to monitor resource usage and identify anomalies.

Educate on Cryptojacking Prevention

Awareness is key, so it is important to let other users of your devices know about phishing attacks and cryptojacking scams, at least so that they don’t take unnecessary risks.

Limit Exposure to Cryptocurrency Sites

Users who access cryptocurrency-based activities are those that are at most risk for cryptojacking. This can be minimized by reducing access to higher-risk sites and avoiding starting any transactions while working on unsecured networks.

How Avast Free Antivirus Shields You from Cryptojacking

So how do you detect something that you can’t actually see or that hasn’t actually stolen anything from you? A tool like Avast Free Antivirus is one of the best options when it comes to finding these stealthy scripts. Due to its advanced technology, Avast Free Antivirus detects and blocks cryptojacking scripts in real time, helping to keep your device safe and functional from malicious activity before it can even start.

Real-Time Defense Against Hidden Threats

Avast Free Antivirus detects cryptojacking on several layers. Real-time scanning constantly observes your device for suspicious behavior, behavioral analysis detects suspicious processes that may suggest cryptojacking, and, most importantly, Avast’s cloud-based threat detection ensures identification and neutralization of even newly emerging threats. In Q1 of 2024 alone, Avast Free Antivirus blocked more than 3.23 billion cyberattacks, a testament to its capability in protecting users from a wide range of threats, including cryptojacking.

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Trusted for Strong Protection Against Cryptojacking

The key benefit of Avast Free Antivirus is that it offers top-notch protection without slowing you down. Optimized to run in the background, it lets you carry on working, streaming, and gaming without interference. You get protection without a compromise on your device’s performance.

Demonstrated Effectiveness

Avast consistently performs well in independent tests, demonstrating its ability to help blocking cryptojacking and other cyber threats. With its proven track record, it offers much-needed confidence that your system is better protected.

Download Avast Free Antivirus today to protect your devices against cryptojacking and other security threats.

Stay Protected Against Cryptojackers

Cryptojacking, a new danger, silently pilfering your device’s valuable resources. This results in poor performance, overheating, and shortened life expectancy on hardware. Avast Free Antivirus applies real-time protection to keep your system secure without sacrificing performance. Whether you work, stream, or game, use this advice to stay better protected from those hidden dangers, so you can always take full advantage of your device and not have someone take advantage of you.