2,500+ Websites Are Now “Cryptojacking” To Use Your CPU Power And Mine Cryptocurrency

What is Cryptojacking?

With the rise in the adoption of cryptocurrencies all around the world, the foul players on the web are also exploiting this opportunity to earn fraudulent clicks. In the past few months, we have told you about different websites and browser extensions using Coinhive miners to use your CPU power without notifying you; this practice is commonly known as Cryptojacking. As a relief, there are some useful ways as well to block such activities in your browser.

As per the findings of a security researcher, Willem de Groot, has found 2,496 websites are now using this practice to harness the CPU power and electricity to mine digital currencies like Monero.

Cryptojacking is on the rise

Groot believes that almost all of the 2,496 websites are running out-of-date software with security flaws. Talking to Ars Technica, he said that attackers are using their access to website code to earn dollars. Moreover, about 80% of such sites are also containing some kind of malware to steal payment details of the visitors.

Most of these websites are using a JavaScript-based miner from the website Coinhive. By simply pasting a code snippet on the website, any webmaster can start mining. They just need to share a small cut with Coinhive.

While some of the websites are bluntly including coinhive.js file, others are using stealth measures like including iframe that points to siteverification.online.

Apart from websites and Chrome extensions, some Android applications are also using the same technique.

How to block cryptojacking in web browser?

There are different ways using which you can block cryptomining in your web browser. You can use Chrome extensions like No Coin and minerBlock.

Here’s a dedicated article that describes different ways to block such activities on your PC. Give it a try and share your feedback.

Also Read: What Is Chia? — BitTorrent Inventor Announces His “Green” Bitcoin Competitor