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Cryptojacking: Software updation helps

Experts suggest that users always keep their software up-to-date as most users do not tend to regularly update, especially android users.

Hyderabad: Next time your computer or laptop or tablet or mobile phone gets loud, hot and slow, check if you are becoming a target of the new form of hacking called Cryptojacking.

According to a Symantec Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR), detection of coin-miners on endpoint computers increased tremendously — by 8,500 per cent — in 2017. Furthermore, India ranks second in the AsiaPacific- Japan (APJ) region, and ninth globally in terms of crypto mining activities.

“Cryptojacking is a rising threat to cyber and personal security. Now you could be fighting for resources on your phone, computer or IoT device as attackers use them for profit. People need to expand their defences or they will pay the price for someone else using their device,” said Tarun Kaura, director at Symantec.

The massive profit incentive of cryptojacking puts people, devices and organisations at risk of unauthorised coin miners siphoning resources from their systems, further motivating criminals to infiltrate everything from home PCs to giant data centres.

Experts suggest that users always keep their software up-to-date as most users do not tend to regularly update, especially android users. They even advise users to be cautious with emails especially with Microsoft Office email attachment that advise you to enable macros to view its content. Backing up your data is the single most effective way of combating a ransomware infection.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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