• Cryptocurrency
  • Earnings
  • Enterprise
  • About TechBooky
  • Submit Article
  • Advertise Here
  • Contact Us
TechBooky
  • African
  • AI
  • Metaverse
  • Gadgets
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • African
  • AI
  • Metaverse
  • Gadgets
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
TechBooky
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Home Cryptocurrency

Hackers Infected US And UK Websites To Mine Cryptocurrencies

Uloma Mary Omolaiye by Uloma Mary Omolaiye
February 13, 2018
in Cryptocurrency
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

As trading in cryptocurrencies is experiencing a surge, over 4000 websites were infected on Sunday with a code that allows web browsers to illegally mine cryptocurrencies on behalf of hackers.

Among the affected computers, includes some controlled by the US and UK governments, although the affected code has now been disabled. After the news about the secret mining went public, the Information Commissioner’s Office took down its website so visitors are no longer at risk of a hack. The organisation said:

“We are aware of the issue and are working to resolve it.”

The problem was traced to a malicious version of a commonly used tool called Browsealoud used to aid visually impaired people across the web. The tainted version of this tool caused the inserted software for mining the cryptocurrencies to run on computers that had previously visited infected sites, thereby secretly generating money for the hackers behind the crime.

The BBC reported that “the plug-in had been tampered with to add a program, Coinhive, which mines for Monero by running processor-intensive calculations on visitors’ computer. Once the plug-in was infected, it affected thousands of other websites in addition to the ICOs which used it”.

With a surge in the value and popularity of bitcoin and other digital currencies, it has become the centre of attraction for hackers looking to make quick cash. However, the process of mining cryptocurrencies involves a large amount of computer processing power, which translates to huge electricity bills for the miners.

Getting someone to do the work and bay the bill sounds really excellent, while they watch behind the screen to claim the coins. This is exactly what the hackers do. They insert the malicious software into websites and unknown to the visitors and owners, their computers are secretly working to mine cryptocurrencies for them. Worse still, they infect one website which further infects more than 4000 others. 

According to Mr. Scott Helme, a security researcher, “they could have extracted personal data, stolen information or installed malware which is only limited by the hackers’ imagination”.

Aside from the huge electricity bills, they are subjected to, this kind of attack is known to slow down computers and cause data loss or damage to the affected computers.

A spokesman from National Cyber Security Centre says that members of the public are no longer at risk since the code has been disabled. Hence, all government websites can function safely.

Related Posts:

  • hacking-passwords
    $2 billion Worth Of Cryptocurrencies Have Been…
  • Hackers Continue To Wreak Havoc Amid Crypto Market Turmoil, Here's How Horizon Lost $100 Million Worth Of Crypto
    Hackers Continue To Wreak Havoc Amid Crypto Market…
  • Block Reports Quarterly Loss Induced By Crypto…
  • bot-vs-apps-2
    European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde…
  • Russian Ministry Website Seems To Have Been Hacked By Ukraine Supporters, Searches For The Site Show “Glory to Ukraine” Results
    Russian Ministry Website Seems To Have Been Hacked…
  • java
    India's Apex Bank Wants To Ban Cryptocurrency Again
  • Russia Will Start Using Its Digital Rouble With Real Customers And Real Transactions From April 2023 In A Pilot Project
    Russia Will Start Using Its Digital Rouble With Real…
  • Robotics
    Nigeria Ranked As Africa’s Second Most Cyber-secure…

Discover more from TechBooky

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Tags: cryptocurrencyhackerssecurityUKunited kingdomunited states
Uloma Mary Omolaiye

Uloma Mary Omolaiye

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

Receive top tech news directly in your inbox

subscription from
Loading

Freshly Squeezed

  • OpenAI to Buy Jony Ive’s Hardware Startup in Silicon Valley Shakeup May 21, 2025
  • 5yrs After Its Last Appearance, Fortnite is Back in The US App Store May 21, 2025
  • Nigeria-Meta Standoff Threatens Small Business Operations May 21, 2025
  • Galileo Wants “Payment Switch” to Strengthen Bill Pay May 21, 2025
  • MTN Nigeria Sues Banks for ₦6B in SleekChip Technologies Debt Case May 21, 2025
  • Nigeria to Release First AI Guidelines Within Weeks, Says Alake May 20, 2025

Browse Archives

May 2025
MTWTFSS
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
« Apr    

Quick Links

  • About TechBooky
  • Advertise Here
  • Contact us
  • Submit Article
  • Privacy Policy

Recent News

OpenAI to Buy Jony Ive’s Hardware Startup in Silicon Valley Shakeup

OpenAI to Buy Jony Ive’s Hardware Startup in Silicon Valley Shakeup

May 21, 2025
5yrs After Its Last Appearance, Fortnite is Back in The US App Store

5yrs After Its Last Appearance, Fortnite is Back in The US App Store

May 21, 2025
Nigeria-Meta Standoff Threatens Small Business Operations

Nigeria-Meta Standoff Threatens Small Business Operations

May 21, 2025
Galileo Wants “Payment Switch” to Strengthen Bill Pay

Galileo Wants “Payment Switch” to Strengthen Bill Pay

May 21, 2025
MTN Declares Core Infrastructure Secure After Cyberattack

MTN Nigeria Sues Banks for ₦6B in SleekChip Technologies Debt Case

May 21, 2025
Nigeria to Release First AI Guidelines Within Weeks, Says Alake

Nigeria to Release First AI Guidelines Within Weeks, Says Alake

May 20, 2025
  • Login

© 2021 Design By Tech Booky Elite

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • African
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Gadgets
  • Metaverse
  • Tips
  • About TechBooky
  • Advertise Here
  • Submit Article
  • Contact us

© 2021 Design By Tech Booky Elite

Discover more from TechBooky

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok