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Cheap malware is behind a rise in attacks on cryptocurrency wallets:
A rise in cheap, easy-to-use malware means it's easier than ever for cyber criminals to steal cryptocurrency.
[...] the growing value of cryptocurrency means it has quickly become a key target for cyber criminals and they're increasingly launching attacks which aim to steal cryptocurrency from the wallets of individual users.
Research by Chainalysis warns that cryptocurrency users are increasingly under threat from malware including information stealers, clippers – which allow attackers to replace text the user has copied, redirecting cryptocurrency to their own wallets – and trojans, all of which can be purchased for what's described as "relatively little money" on cyber criminal forums.
For example, a form of info stealer malware called Redline is advertised on Russian cyber crime forums at $150 for a month's subscription or $800 for 'lifetime' access. For a cyber criminal looking to steal cryptocurrency, it's sadly highly likely they'll make back the money paid for the malware within a handful of attacks.
The illicit service also provides users with a tool which allows attackers to encrypt the malware so it's more difficult for anti-virus software to detect, increasingly the likelihood of attacks successfully stealing cryptocurrency from compromised victims.
"The proliferation of cheap access to malware families like Redline means that even relatively low-skilled cybercriminals can use them to steal cryptocurrency," warns the report.
Overall, the malware families in the report have received 5,974 transfers from victims in 2021, up from 5,449 in 2020 - although that's down significantly on 2019 which saw more that 7,000 transfers.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 23 2022, @02:43PM (4 children)
I would argue that the malware authors are doing the global climate a favour by reducing the appeal of this energy-devouring Ponzi scheme... where can we nominate them for a Nobel Peace Prize.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 23 2022, @02:57PM
Yeah, well, I refuse to use this cheap malware. I get my malware in the East European boutiques, same place I buy counterfeit Gucci handbags and such.
(Score: 2) by NateMich on Sunday January 23 2022, @04:47PM (2 children)
I'm not sure stealing money makes money less appealing.
The appeal is obviously already there.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 23 2022, @11:54PM (1 child)
》 The appeal is obviously already there
A 30% drop in January suggests otherwise... who wants to be the last clown standing when they stop the music.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 24 2022, @11:17AM
The drop in market price is entirely unrelated to malware theft, but is instead more closely tied to the same price drop in tech stocks during that window of time.