Anyone can be infected by mine hackers, so it’s important to upgrade your AV protection to include a block against WannaMine and similar threats.
Another day, another headline about the cryptocurrency craze… If anyone else is starting to feel like cryptocurrency is just a giant game of Farmville where you tend your crops, sell them at the market, and “earn” money that you don’t actually have, then you’re in good company. This time, the news is about a form of malware that infects your computer so hackers can hijack your system’s processors in order to mine Bitcoin.
WannaMine, named from a mashup of WannaCry and cryptomining, infects your system for the purpose of letting a hacker run the high-speed calculations needed to mine Bitcoin. For anyone who could possibly remain unaware, there’s a really great article here that breaks down the whys and how-tos of mining Bitcoin.
Gold rush
The aforementioned article includes a highly significant concept: “The real money in the gold rush is made in the spades.” History can’t argue there. Whole cities were built in order to meet the needs of the ’49ers who headed west to California, cities that still thrive today. Levi Strauss & Company’s famous blue jeans were built to outfit the miners, and the Wells Fargo company launched as a bank in San Francisco to secure the funds coming in from the mining camps.
Millon dollar baby
Now, there are of course computers built specifically for the high-volume requirements of cryptocurrency mining. One mining machine retails for over $1 million, while other apps and gadgets are a little more reasonable, even if they still require some investment. But who needs expensive equipment when you can simply target other people’s computers to do the hard work for you?
All at risk
WannaMine doesn’t seem to have any other adverse affect on your data or your network, unless you count slowing down your computer’s ability to turn function as “adverse”. And no, you don’t have to have anything to do with cryptocurrency to be infected, meaning you don’t have to have engaged in mining or even have an Ethereum wallet. Anyone can be infected by mine hackers, so it’s important to upgrade your AV protection to include a block against WannaMine and other similar threats.