NorSIS Detects Facebook Virus Mining Bitcoin

NorSIS (Norwegian Center for Information Security) is warning of one virus mining Bitcoins as it's been proliferating fast via Facebook from the time of its detection during the beginning days of May 2014. The virus reportedly, masks behind one instant message or IM graphic; published bitjuice.com dated May 15, 2014.

It's also reported that the virus merely targets and infects Windows PCs and has no effect on smart-phones or Mac computers. It appears to exploit vulnerability within Java.

According to Vidar Sandland Security Advisor at NorSIS, anyone coming across the malware on Facebook requires looking at it closely. Bitjuice.com published this.

Sandland explains that the moment an end-user downloads as well as views the attachment, his PC would get infected. He adds that the virus hugely disturbs the PC's performance. There is also theft of computing power which the virus steals off the infected PC by utilizing power contained inside video's processor/card.

NorSIS says end-users will become aware once they're infected with the virus when their PCs radiate more heat and make greater than usual sound due to the heavy computations the malware does for mining the crypto-currency. Following this, transmission of digital coins begins directed towards the unknown computer hackers.

Telenor the telecom major of Norway was first to spot the said virus.

As per Sandland, at the moment, no anti-virus product was available that could spot the virus and eliminate it, which was worrisome, albeit more suppliers were expected to slowly find the required software.

However, end-users can utilize the tool that helps view alternate data flow to erase any alternate data flow, as this would help eliminate the malware. Besides, making anti-virus software on the PC up-to-date can be helpful too.

And with hackers executing certain extremely cunning methodologies for harvesting digital currency via other people's systems, Kaspersky finds that malware for harvesting Bitcoin increased nearly 25% since 2013.

Moreover, there has been malicious code planted onto Android applications that piggyback on the smart machine for harvesting Bitcoins.

Conclusively, the above malware samples for mining digital coins demonstrate that with advancements of technologies there's also increase in hackers' sinister abilities.

» SPAMfighter News - 5/24/2014