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| Skype trojan forces Bitcoin mining, security firm warns | Skype trojan forces Bitcoin mining, security firm warns |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A trojan that can hijack a computer and force it into mining for Bitcoins - the virtual currency - has been spreading via Skype. | A trojan that can hijack a computer and force it into mining for Bitcoins - the virtual currency - has been spreading via Skype. |
| Antivirus firm Kaspersky Labs said attackers sent messages in various languages translating to "this my favourite picture of you". | Antivirus firm Kaspersky Labs said attackers sent messages in various languages translating to "this my favourite picture of you". |
| The message included a malicious link which was, at its peak, being accessed more than 2,000 times every hour. | The message included a malicious link which was, at its peak, being accessed more than 2,000 times every hour. |
| The value of Bitcoin has grown massively in recent weeks. | The value of Bitcoin has grown massively in recent weeks. |
| At the time of writing, Bitcoin exchange website Mt Gox has the currency listed as being worth $186 (£121). | At the time of writing, Bitcoin exchange website Mt Gox has the currency listed as being worth $186 (£121). |
| CPU abuse | CPU abuse |
| Unlike other currencies, Bitcoins are not issued by a central bank or other centralised authority. | Unlike other currencies, Bitcoins are not issued by a central bank or other centralised authority. |
| Instead they are created in a process called "mining", in which coins are issued to a user when they solve a complicated mathematical problem using their computer. | Instead they are created in a process called "mining", in which coins are issued to a user when they solve a complicated mathematical problem using their computer. |
| The trojan hijacks a victim's machine and makes it mine for Bitcoins on the attacker's behalf. The greater the number of machines mining, the quicker coins will be harvested. | |
| "Most of the potential victims live in Italy then Russia, Poland, Costa Rica, Spain, Germany, Ukraine and others," wrote Dmitry Bestuzhev from Kaspersky Labs in a blog post. | "Most of the potential victims live in Italy then Russia, Poland, Costa Rica, Spain, Germany, Ukraine and others," wrote Dmitry Bestuzhev from Kaspersky Labs in a blog post. |
| The attack "dropper" originates from a server in India, but once installed transmits information back to a control centre in Germany, Mr Bestuzhev wrote. | The attack "dropper" originates from a server in India, but once installed transmits information back to a control centre in Germany, Mr Bestuzhev wrote. |
| The trojan is able to carry out many tasks, he added, but taking over computers for Bitcoin mining appears to be its primary function. | |
| "It abuses the CPU of infected machines to mine Bitcoins for the criminal. | "It abuses the CPU of infected machines to mine Bitcoins for the criminal. |
| "The campaign is quite active. If you see your machine is working hard, using all available CPU resources, you may be infected." | "The campaign is quite active. If you see your machine is working hard, using all available CPU resources, you may be infected." |