Recently, other researchers reported that a new Android malware family (detected as ANDROIDOS_KAGECOIN.HBT) had cryptocurrency mining capabilities.Based on our analysis, we have found that this malware is involved in the mining for various digital currencies, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Dogecoin.This has real consequences for users: shorter battery life, increased wear and tear, all of which could lead to a shorter device lifespan.The researchers originally found ANDROIDOS_KAGECOIN as repacked copies of popular apps such as Football Manager Handheld and TuneIn Radio.The apps were injected with the CPU mining code from a legitimate Android cryptocurrency mining app; this code is based on the well-known cpuminer software.To hide the malicious code, the cybercriminal modified the Google Mobile Ads portion of the app, as seen below: Figure 1.The modified Google Mobile Ads code The miner is started as a background service once it detects that the affected device is connected to the Internet.

By default, it launches the CPU miner to connect to a dynamic domain, which then redirects to an anonymous Dogecoin mining pool.By February 17, his network of mobile miners has earned him thousands of Dogecoins.After February 17, the cybercriminal changed mining pools.The malware is configured to download a file, which contains the information necessary to update the configuration of the miner.This configuration file was updated, and it now connects to the well-known WafflePool mining pool.bitcoin to wmzThe Bitcoins mined have been paid out (i.e., transferred to the cybercriminal’s wallet) several times.ethereum tutorial youtubeCoin pool configuration code The coin-mining apps discussed above were found outside of the Google Play store, but we have found the same behavior in apps inside the Google Play store.bitcoin global warming

These apps have been downloaded by millions of users, which means that there may be many Android devices out there being used to mine cryptocurrency for cybercriminals.We detect this new malware family as  ANDROIDOS_KAGECOIN.HBTB.(As of this writing, these apps are still available.)Mining Apps in Google Play Figure 4.Download count of mining apps Analyzing the code of these apps reveal the cryptocurrency mining code inside.bitcoin botnet source codeUnlike the other malicious apps, in these cases the mining only occurs when the device is charging, as the increased energy usage won’t be noticed as much.bitcoin end povertyCryptocurrency mining code The same miner configuration updating logic is also present here.bitcoin minimum payoutAnalyzing the configuration file, it seems that the cybercriminal responsible is switching into mining Litecoins.bitcoin mining tips tricks

Configuration file, showing switch into LiteCoin mining We believe that with thousands of affected devices, cybercriminal accumulated a great deal of Dogecoins.Reading their app description and terms and conditions on the websites of these apps, users may not know that their devices may potentially be used as mining devices due to the murky language and vague terminology.Clever as the attack is, whoever carried it out may not have thought things through.achat bitcoin prixPhones do not have sufficient performance to serve as effective miners.is bitcoin mining bad for your gpuUsers will also quickly notice the odd behavior of the miners – slow charging and excessively hot phones will all be seen, making the miner’s presence not particularly stealthy.Yes, they can gain money this way, but at a glacial pace.Users with phones and tablets that are suddenly charging slowly, running hot, or quickly running out of batteries may want to consider if they have been exposed to this or similar threats.

Also, just because an app has been downloaded from an app store – even Google Play – does not mean it is safe.We have informed the Google Play security team about this issue.Security firm says Google has removed five apps from its Google Play store for hidden battery-sapping features Google has removed five wallpaper apps from Android's Google Play app store, after they were found to be mining for the bitcoin cryptocurrency without users' knowledge.Security firm Lookout identified a strain of malware called BadLepricon running within the apps, which included Mens Club Live Wallpaper, Urban Pulse Live Wallpaper, Epic Smoke Live Wallpaper and Beating Heart Live Wallpaper."These apps did fulfill their advertised purpose in that they provided live wallpaper apps, which vary in theme from anime girls to 'epic smoke' to attractive men," explained Lookout in a blog post."However, without alerting you in the terms of service, BadLepricon enters into an infinite loop where — every five seconds — it checks the battery level, connectivity, and whether the phone’s display was on."

If the battery level is more than 50% full, the display is turned off and the device is connected to the network, the malware started its process of "mining" for bitcoin – running the necessary calculations to make the currency work, and getting a share of the results.bitcoin's design means it gets harder over time to mine, and even the most powerful smartphones in 2014 have puny computing power for this task alone.The goal of bitcoin-mining malware like BadLepricon is to draw on the power of many devices, all running software without their owners' permission.That said, BadLepricon doesn't seem to have been a roaring success on that score: "Google promptly removed five of these applications after we alerted them to the issue.The apps had between 100-500 installs each at the time of removal," explained Lookout.This isn't the first cryptocoin-mining malware to be exposed on smartphones.In March, security company Trend Micro said it had found apps on Google Play with between 1m and 5m downloads each which were mining for Dogecoins and Litecoins – easier currencies to mine than bitcoin at the moment.

"Reading their app description and terms and conditions on the websites of these apps, users may not know that their devices may potentially be used as mining devices due to the murky language and vague terminology," explained mobile threats analyst Veo Zhang at the time.Security firms have been warning about the potential for bitcoin-mining botnets for some time.In June 2011, Symantec claimed that while it had "not observed any botnets currently being used to mine Bitcoins, the possibility is there" – although it also suggested that this may be a less lucrative use for a botnet than other forms of cybercrime.Both security companies have a clear interest in getting Android users worried about stealth-mining malware: one of Lookout's two suggestions on avoiding them is to "download a mobile security app like Lookout’s app that protects against malware as a first line of defense".For its part, Google runs its own scanning tools to try to spot malware-infected apps uploaded to its store, then takes action when apps slip through the net.