Creating a Bitcoin-Mining Botnet at No Cost
5 stars based on
63 reviews
Despite an increase in popularity over recent months amongst botnet operators, malware-powered Bitcoin mining brings little to no financial return, say experts. Security giant McAfee contends in its quarterly threat report PDF that commercial botnet controllers and malware packages have been adding cryptocurrency mining options to their list of services offered. The mining tools - offered alongside botnet task options such as spam runs or distributed denial of service DDoS attacks - put infected machines to use mining Bitcoin.
Unfortunately for the cybercrooks, however, it seems that a botnet-turned-mining rig doesn't actually make much money in real life. McAfee found that the increasing difficulty of Bitcoin hashes, combined with the attrition rate from malware detections on infected machines, would make turning a profit from botnet mining nearly impossible. According to researcher estimates, a botnet controller attempting to mine Bitcoin with a 10, system network would initially see a net loss in operations and with increasing difficulty cycles productivity would plateau off without turning much of a profit.
That rate becomes even lower when mobile devices are added to the equation. Researchers note that with less powerful processors and limited battery life, mobile devices are ill-equipped to function as dedicated cryptocurrency mining tools, especially when this is done via covert malware infections.
Researchers bitcoin mining botnet tutorial, therefore, that botnet kingpins are better off avoiding the Bitcoin mining game and sticking with other techniques. That would come as little relief, however, to owners of infected machines who will see their system performance and battery life take a hit whether or not the miner turns a profit.
Minds Mastering Machines - Call for papers now open. The Register - Independent news and views for the tech community. Part of Situation Publishing. Join our daily or weekly newsletters, subscribe to a specific section or set News alerts. The Register uses cookies. Brakes slammed on Pentagon's multibillion cloud deal Risky business: You'd better have a plan for tech to go wrong Africa's internet bitcoin mining botnet tutorial hit with sexual harassment cover-up claims Measure for measure: Why network surveys don't count what counts.
Microsoft reckons devs would like an AI Clippy to help them write code Microsoft vows to bridge phones to PCs, and this time it means it. Give us notch support or … you don't wanna know Fork it! Equifax reveals full horror of that monstrous cyber-heist of its servers Android Bitcoin mining botnet tutorial to improve users' network privacy Hacking charge dropped against Nova Scotia teen who slurped public records from the web That Drupal bug you were told to patch weeks ago?
Cryptominers hope you haven't bothered. Get on top of reliability with our best practices webinar. Sony reports shortage of cute robot puppies! Predictable senility allows boffins to spot recycled NAND chips Waymo van prang, self-driving cars still suck, Bitcoin mining botnet tutorial research jobs, and more Congratulations, we all survived Star Wars day! Now for some bitcoin mining botnet tutorial headaches. Verity Stob Yes, people see straight through male displays bitcoin mining botnet tutorial bling they're only after a fling New Monty Python movie to turn old jokes bitcoin mining botnet tutorial new royalties Mystery crapper comes a cropper The steaks have never been higher: Swiss Lidl is selling local cannabis.
Thinking of using it to mine Bitcoin? Most read Equifax reveals full horror of that monstrous cyber-heist of its servers Zombie Cambridge Analytica told 'death' can't save it from the law Heir to SMS finally excites carriers, by making Google grovel Microsoft: Our most bitcoin mining botnet tutorial server product of all time runs on Linux Admin needed server fast, skipped factory config … then bricked it. More from The Register.
Potentially a hazardous waste dump of child abuse, malware, etc Boffins warn of legal risks from arbitrary data distribution. Malware Engine needs, erm, malware protection Stop appreciating the irony and go install the patch now.
Junk food meets junk money: Lloyds Bank bans Bitcoin purchases by credit card customers B-b-b. Bitcoin hijackers found at least one sucker for scam Chrome extension Victim of 'FacexWorm' malware clicked on random link from Facebook Messenger. Cops seek 4 for aggravated burglary in Midsomer Murders town Fintech workers reportedly targeted. This paper suggests bitcoin mining botnet tutorial battery of technical checks that testers can quickly perform to stratify the vast array of applications that exist in the enterprise ecosystem.
Using OutSystems, AXA plans to continuously improve the eServe portal so it can provide additional benefits to brokers and customers. The ascendancy of the multi-cloud world gives you bitcoin mining botnet tutorial new bitcoin mining botnet tutorial to worry about and some old ones to relax about. Sponsored links Get The Register's Headlines in your inbox daily - quick signup!
About us Who we are Under the hood Contact us Advertise with us. Sign up to our Newsletters Join our daily or weekly newsletters, subscribe to a specific section or set News alerts Subscribe.