The total value of all cryptocurrency assets in the world is measured in trillions. With new cryptocurrencies popping up left and right, it’s only expected to increase in the coming years.
On the other hand, the anonymity crypto grants have made it very attractive to cybercriminals, who are always coming up with new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in consumer devices and generate money. Not surprisingly, this includes smartphones.
What is Cryptojacking? How does it work on smartphones?
Cryptojacking is a type of cyberattack that involves a threat actor hijacking a target’s device with the goal of using it to mine cryptocurrency. In such an attack, the computing power of your device is used without your knowledge or consent to solve cryptographic equations, thereby generating crypto for someone else.
Today’s smartphones are more powerful than supercomputers were just 10 years ago, so they can definitely be used to mine crypto. Naturally, this has made them a prime target for cryptojacking attacks.
Both Android and iOS smartphones can be used to mine crypto. However, it is important to note that Android devices are far more vulnerable to all types of cyber attacks than iPhones, especially iPhones that have not been jailbroken.
But how do cryptojackers spread on mobile devices, which are typically more resistant to malware than desktop computers?
Your smartphone can be infected with a cryptojacker in a number of ways, but more often than not, this happens when you download files from unverified sources. For example, when you download a file from a random website, as opposed to using a proper app store.
With that said, even legitimate apps can be misused by cybercriminals. If they are able to penetrate an app, they can inject malicious code into it and use it to distribute all kinds of malware, including cryptojacking malware. Of course, malicious mining code can also be inserted into a website or online advertisement, hide behind phishing links and such.
Once a cryptojacker is on your smartphone, it will use its power to mine cryptocurrency in the background. And that would most likely mine Monero, a cryptocurrency known for its incredibly hard-to-trace privacy features. For example, when the superhero movie Spider-Man: No Way Home came out in 2021, a threat actor distributed what appeared to be a torrent file of the movie, but was actually a Monero miner.
5 Signs Your Smartphone Is Infected With Crypto Malware
Crypto malware will affect your smartphone in various ways, damage the hardware, and possibly cause the device to break completely. The good news is that it is very easy to find out if your smartphone is being used to mine cryptocurrency. Here are five red flags and warning signs to look for.
1. It is heating up
Does your phone heat up faster than usual? Does your hand feel unusually warm, even when you’re not using power-hungry apps? Does it stay warm even if you put it down for a while? If the answer to these questions is yes, there is a good chance that your device is being used to mine crypto.
2. Battery life is shorter
If you are charging your smartphone more often than you normally do because the battery life is much shorter than it used to be, there is definitely a problem with it. And yes, the problem could be crypto malware.
3. The interface stutters
Does your smartphone interface stutter and hang, even when you try to do simple tasks like setting the alarm or changing the settings? That’s another red flag and potentially a sign that there’s a cryptojacker on your phone.
4. Apps lag and crash
Another sign that your smartphone is infected with cryptojacking malware is apps that are unresponsive, freezing, lagging or crashing frequently – this happens because crypto miners eat up all the CPU power.
5. The keyboard works
This may sound strange, but keyboard problems are often a sign of some type of malware. So if the keyboard takes a long time to appear or you notice strange typing delays, you may have a crypto miner on your phone.
In general, any sudden changes in the smartphone’s behavior are a reliable sign that something is very wrong. A combination of overheating, lags, crashes and similar malfunctions are often the result of cryptojacking. But there are steps you can take to prevent this from happening.
How to prevent mobile cryptojacking
To begin with, you should only download apps from regulated marketplaces such as Google Play and the App Store. And even if you do, be careful and do some research before downloading an app. This includes taking basic precautions, like reading reviews and Googling the company behind the product.
Second, never click on a link that came from an unknown email address, even if it seems legitimate. And when you’re not entirely sure, test it with a link checker—there are plenty to choose from.
It’s obviously important to regularly update your operating system and patch vulnerabilities, but you can further improve your protection against malware with security apps, ditching your regular browser for a more secure and private alternative.
And if you happen to download a cryptojacker, make sure you react as soon as possible. The first thing you should do is try to remove the malware manually, or with your security software. If that fails, consider doing a factory reset. However, keep in mind that this is a full software restore and you will lose access to all data on your phone unless it is backed up somewhere. It should definitely be a last resort.
Increase your smartphone’s security to ward off attacks
Cryptojacking malware will remain a threat for a long time to come. And that makes perfect sense, because the more powerful smartphones are, the more crypto they can mine, and the more common these attacks will be.
Securing your smartphone has clearly never been more important. But there are many ways to do just that, and there are many free apps that can make the whole process painless.
