Protect your personal devices from cryptojacking and cryptomining malware

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is cryptojacking?

  With cryptojacking, online criminals use malware to secretly use the computing resources of your system to mine cryptocurrency — which requires tremendous processing power to calculate exceptionally complex digital equations, called hashes. While the malware does not steal your data, it robs you of considerable system resources, slowing your computer’s performance and significantly increasing your energy use.
  Sometimes, cryptocurrency mining malware is injected into your system, piggybacking on apps or running in the background hoping to go unnoticed. Other times, the malware attacks via your web browser when you go to an infected website and runs as long as you are connected to that site.

• What is cryptomining malware?

  Cryptomining malware is secretely using people’s devices, like computers, smartphones, tablets and even servers, to perform complex mathematical calculations to mine cryptocurrencies. It is basically stealing computing resources to mine a specific cryptocurrency.

• How does cryptojacking malware work?

  Hackers are mining cryptocurrencies with your computers resources. This can happen after clicking on a malicious link which you received though an email or a malicious website.

• How to detect cryptomining viruses on my computer?

  Cryptomining demands a lot of processing power, and your CPU will be asked to work overtime. If you want to test a PC for mining malware, open your system’s resource monitor (Task Manager for Windows, Activity Monitor for Macs) to see if the CPU use is unusually high. If you’ve closed all the apps on your system and the CPU is still in overdrive, or if CPU use spikes when you visit a specific website, then you may have a cryptominer at work.

• What are the risks of cryptomining malware?

  Your device is being used to mine cryptocurrency. You can identify if you are a victim of this cryptomining malware by checking to see if the following is occurring:
  
  • High usage of your computer’s CPU.
  • Your device is slower then normal.
  • You’re experiencing a slower network.
  • Power drains from your battery more quickly.

• How does Acronis True Image detect cryptojacking attacks?

  It automatically protects you against cryptojacking with its built-in anti-malware solution that protects your computer and your personal data from harm.

• Can Acronis True Image prevent the installation of cryptomining malware?

  Yes, as it provides real-time protection against malware and protects your device and

• Can any cryptocurrency mining cause malware or is it only Bitcoin-miner malware?

  It can be any cryptocurrency; therefore, you need protection to keep your device and your personal data protected.