{"id":1183,"date":"2018-03-22T11:58:12","date_gmt":"2018-03-22T15:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/endpoint-security\/?p=1183"},"modified":"2018-03-22T11:58:12","modified_gmt":"2018-03-22T15:58:12","slug":"protecting-against-cryptojacking-what-can-you-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/endpoint-security\/protecting-against-cryptojacking-what-can-you-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting Against Cryptojacking: What Can You Do?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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According to recent studies by endpoint security vendor<\/span> Symantec<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>cryptocurrency mining attacks<\/span><\/a> (often called cryptojacking) saw an increase of 34,000% in 2017. That isn\u2019t a typo. In Q4 2017 alone, Symantec\u2019s endpoint security platform detected a 8,500% increase in such attacks.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Insight<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n

Cryptojacking malware exploits a victim server\u2019s own processing power to \u201cmine\u201d\u2014verify digital transactions in return for payment \u2014digital currencies. This malicious venture has proven so lucrative and convenient some <\/span>experts believe<\/span><\/a> that it\u2019s the reason ransomware has seen something of a decline in frequency and in price in recent months. <\/span><\/p>\n

The threat of cryptojacking is far more insidious than ransomware. It\u2019s designed to sneak into a server or network and work quietly, but its effects are devastating: drained battery life, decreased machine performance, and in the most extreme cases an outright network shutdown. Cryptojacking can render some enterprises unable to function for days or weeks, and enterprises in particular are vulnerable to these attacks. They have more processing power and electricity to steal than the average user, allowing hackers to shift the costs of their activities more effectively. <\/span><\/p>\n

How can you keep cryptojacking malware off your enterprise\u2019s network? <\/span><\/p>\n

Act Quickly If You See Signs of Cryptojacking<\/b><\/h3>\n

There are some common symptoms. A computer bogged down by a cryptojacking code (and malware in general) will run abnormally slow, despite the system appearing to run at a higher than normal rate. Keep an eye out if your endpoint starts running at a high rate at an unusual time, such as when visiting particular websites or if no programs are running. This is a clear sign something is wrong. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you notice suspicious behavior, alert your IT security team so they can begin investigating immediately. You want to prevent a network shutdown and mitigate the expenses of the cryptojacking code. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep Your Endpoint Security Solution Up-To-Date<\/b><\/h3>\n

Legacy anti-virus programs will generally not be capable of handling the increasing sophistication of cryptojacking tactics. Most modern attacks use \u201cfileless malware\u201d that runs only on memory and thus evades traditional signature-based detection methods. Keep your endpoint security solution updated, regularly patched, and evaluate whether it may be <\/span>time for an upgrade<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Practice and Enforce Good Digital Hygiene Practices <\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Installing a solid anti-virus and endpoint security solution is only the first step; it\u2019s meaningless if you don\u2019t take some cybersecurity initiative on yourself. Digital hygiene best practices include:<\/span><\/p>\n