Hackers exploit Russian smart homes for crypto mining: report

Hackers are exploiting vulnerabilities in Russian smart homes to create botnets, using the infected devices to mine cryptocurrency and launch DDoS attacks.

Hackers are reportedly exploiting vulnerabilities in Russian smart homes to mine cryptocurrency and carry out cyberattacks, Russia’s state-controlled news agency TASS reports, citing a law enforcement agency.

According to a March 24 report, cybercriminals are hijacking smart devices in homes to create botnets, which are being used to mine cryptocurrencies and launch DDoS attacks.

While it’s still unclear how big the attack is or how long it’s been going on, the law enforcement agency also said that hackers could use the system for surveillance. The hackers might access footage from security cameras or gather data from smart toothbrushes and temperature sensors to track whether the homeowner is at home, the agency said, though it didn’t provide details on which devices are vulnerable or how exactly the attacks are carried out.

Bad actors have long used various techniques to hijack cryptocurrency. In 2022, crypto.news reported about a new method that involves hiding malware in downloadable movie files, specifically targeting torrent users.

The malware executes a PowerShell command that injects malicious code into the Firefox browser. Its goal is to steal Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) addresses, replacing them with the hacker’s wallet. The malware is also used to mine cryptocurrency and manipulate Google results, and it attempts to reroute Wikipedia donations as well.