Cryptojacking is a type of cybercrime where a device’s computational power is stolen to mine cryptocurrencies without the user’s knowledge or permission. With over 20,000 cryptocurrencies in the world, valued at over a trillion dollars, mining cryptocurrencies is a lucrative process that requires hardware, electricity, and computational power. To overcome these challenges, cybercriminals use cryptojacking to illegally mine cryptocurrencies and reap rewards without spending any resources. To defend against cryptojacking, users should strengthen their cybersecurity program using software like antivirus protection, RASP software, and WAF solutions. There are three types of cryptojacking attacks: in-browser, in-host, and in-memory. Browser-based cryptojacking became notorious after the launch of Coinhive, a crypto mining script provider, in 2017. Coinhive developed a simple JavaScript that mined Monero by employing in-browser crypto mining. While browser-based mining was initially promoted as an alternative to in-browser advertising, it was soon abused by hackers and cybercriminals.
