To help you understand this new digital threat better, we have listed out these FAQs.

 1. What is cryptojacking?

A cryptocurrency is a form of virtual or digital money that uses cryptography for security. To generate (mine) this currency, a computer’s processing power is required. Cryptojacking (or cryptocurrency hijacking or cryptocurrency mining malware) is the secret use of your computer’s CPU power to generate cryptocurrency without your consent or knowledge. In simpler terms, when your computer is secretly used to generate digital cash, it is called cryptojacking.

2. What are some popular cryptocurrencies?

1) Bitcoin

2) Litecoin (LTC) Litecoin

2) Ethereum (ETH)

3) Zcash (ZEC)

4) Dash

5) Ripple (XRP)

6) Monero (XMR)

 3. Who can become the target of cryptojacking?

It is a common misconception that cryptojacking affects only those who handle cryptocurrencies. In fact, anyone who has a computer and uses the Internet can be targeted by attackers behind cryptojacking.

4. How can an attacker carry out cryptojacking on your computer?

An attacker can carry out cryptojacking on your computer by dropping a crypto mining code on the system without your knowledge. This can be done in the following ways:

• The attacker can send you a phishing email that tricks you into clicking on a link or downloading an attachment. Once you do that, a crypto mining code is dropped on your computer.
• The attacker can infect a website or pop-up ad with a crypto mining script (written in JavaScript). And if you happen to visit such a website or click on the ad, you will unknowingly trigger the crypto mining script to start running on your computer. This technique is called in-browsing cryptojacking and it’s more popular than the method described above. This is because, here, the attacker does not have to install any code; all they need to do is make you visit a certain website or click on an ad and your computer turns into a cryptocurrency mining machine.

 5. How do you know if your computer has been cryptojacked?

If your computer is being used for cryptojacking, the only sign you might notice is slower performance or lag in execution. Some crypto mining scripts can eat 100% of the targeted computer’s CPU power which can significantly lower the lifespan of the hardware itself. In most cryptojacking cases that got reported, neither the owners of the compromised website nor its users were aware that they were the victims.

 6. What type of websites are usually targeted for cryptojacking?

Attackers mostly target unprotected websites that receive massive traffic (has a lot of visitors) on a daily basis and compromise them with crypto mining codes. These websites could include government or news portals and even those that provide some kind of online service. And when individual users access these compromised websites, the crypto mining code hijacks their web