By now, to a greater or lesser extent, we have heard of cryptocurrencies, for example, Bitcoin. Broadly speaking, when we talk about them we refer to electronic money. Currently this not tangible currency is increasingly accepted by some companies as a means of payment equivalent to cash (games and casinos, online stores, specific ATMs, banks, etc.).
Unlike money, which is issued and put into circulation by the national banks of each country, cryptocurrencies can be created by individuals with specific technological knowledge, using Blockchain programming language (extraction and mining). Simply put, with the right computer skills, a good internet connection and a storage device, even temporary (laptops, mobiles, game consoles, etc.), digital money that is not traceable by governments can be created from scratch.
Consequently,cryptojacking consists of infecting our professional or personal devices, with a malware or virus. In this way, cybercriminals can use them at will, without our knowledge or consent. And they can connect through them to platforms and other necessary networks that allow the creation of their own coins or money.
The benefit for the cybercriminal is that the balance available in cryptocurrencies can be converted into real money through certain currency exchange companies and banks, which already accept today, for example, Bitcoin, as a means of payment more .
The damage for us as users is that we have been used to commit a crime and that, in the event of an investigation, our device will be implicated as the means through which it has been committed. How can we avoid that? Installing antivirus and firewall in all our devices to be alerted as soon as an attempt of attack occurs.