BtCIRT has known through different sources that most of the popular video streaming sites are found to be using the resources of users’ devices for cryptocurrency mining resulting to abnormally high CPU usage, thus slowing the device for user activity.
As stated by the Guardian “The mining program is loaded into the users’ browser when the video player is downloaded ready to stream the video. Victims are not notified and are unaware that their computer is working hard to generate Monero. The only sign for most users would be that their computer is running slowly while playing the video”
Therefore, BtCIRT recommends users to make sure that you have installed ad blocker or use some other specialized extensions to combat crypto-jacking. Also, make sure you have up-to-date antivirus and perform full scan periodically.
For more details, please visit:
- https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/dec/13/video-site-visitors-unwittingly-mine-cryptocurrency-as-they-watch-report-openload-streamango-rapidvideo-onlinevideoconverter-monero.
- https://www.csoonline.com/article/3242247/security/popular-streaming-sites-secretly-mine-cryptocurrency-while-you-watch-free-movies.html.
- https://blog.adguard.com/en/crypto-streaming-strikes-back/ .