Cryptojacking Activity Decreased for the First Time Since 2018, Says Intelligence Report


Cryptojacking activity seems to be losing momentum, specifically types that mine monero, as a recent report unveiled a slowdown in the illicit crypto-mining activities in the cloud. A threat intelligence firm compiled the results.

Report Focused on Cryptojacking Incidents With Monero

According to Unit 42 in their “Cloud Thread Report,” cryptojacking attacks have been decreasing for the first time since 2018 – the year when the firm started to trace illicit mining activities. But the study put its focus specifically on monero (XMR).

Threat actors in cryptojacking attacks mainly mine the privacy cryptocurrency, which has been well-document in other intelligence firms’ research.

Per the Unit 42 report, from December 2020 to February 2021, only 17% of organizations worldwide with cloud-based infrastructure had cryptojacking activity. It represents a decline compared to the figure from July to September 2020, where 23% of the firms reported such incidents.

Although the pandemic boosted authorized crypto-mining activity, the latest findings suggest that this is the first recorded drop in cryptojacking incidents since Unit 42 began tracking such attacks in 2018.

Companies Are Lacking Enough Security Measures to Prevent Attacks

However, Unit 42 warns that companies are not taking enough security measures to prevent such attacks on their cloud infrastructures:

Organizations have neglected to invest in the cloud governance and automated security controls necessary to ensure that their workloads remain secure as they move to the cloud. In turn, they have created serious business risks such as exposing unencrypted sensitive data to the internet and inviting breaches by leaving insecure ports open. While our Unit 42 Cloud Threat Reports in 2020 identified similar problems, the numerous crises unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic have made the situation more challenging and widespread.

Still, the cyber intelligence firm raised red flags on the increasing number of other cyberattacks not related to the crypto sphere. These incidents are related to flaws also spotted on cloud infrastructures.

As of press time, according to markets.Bitcoin.com data, XMR is exchanging hands at $269.32, up 0.15% on the day, with a market capitalization of $4.82 billion.

What do you think about the report’s findings on cryptojacking activities? Let us know in the comments section below.

Felipe Erazo

Born in Colombia, Felipe earned a degree in journalism at the University of Chile with the highest honor in the overall ranking and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Communication. He is a writer with more than nine years of experience, first in the Forex field and later in the crypto industry as an analyst/news junkie. Among his interest topics include human rights, decentralization, financial markets, geopolitics, sports, and new technologies. An inveterate traveler, and always attracted to a good plate of food.

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

More Popular NewsIn Case You Missed It



Source

Recommended For You

About the Author: Admin

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *