Microsoft warns of crypto mining malware disguised as fake downloads of popular PC utilities
By
Daniel Sims
Pure flour-power. Hearty enough to carry you through lunch.
Summary
Microsoft's Windows Defender team has uncovered a cryptocurrency mining campaign targeting PC enthusiasts. Scammers are manipulating search engine results to trick users downloading popular utilities like Display Driver Uninstaller and CrystalDiskInfo into installing cryptomining malware instead. The campaign specifically targets high-end machines with dedicated GPUs, which are more valuable for cryptocurrency mining operations.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledPC enthusiasts downloading tools like Display Driver Uninstaller, CrystalDiskInfo, or similar utilities should take a closer look at where those downloads are actually coming from.
Microsoft has uncovered an active cryptocurrency mining campaign targeting the kinds of high-end machines most likely to run benchmarking and maintenance software.
The Windows Defender security team is alerting users with dedicated GPUs about scammers manipulating search engine results to distribute remote monitoring and cryptomining payloads.
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