Your Android Device is a Slave to Cryptocurrency Malware

Hackers have quickly discovered that they can infect Android phones with cryptocurrency malware, forcing devices into using precious CPU power to serve them. A new piece of malware, known as ADB.Miner is doing just that. The general term is called “mining for cryptocurrency”. A cryptocurrency is an asset that can be used similar to any other currency, trading for goods or services, but the difference is it’s digitally based and untraceable. The mining process itself allows for the discovery of new bits of digital currency. If a hacker is sneaking in on your device,  how might it be affecting you?

Once a piece of mining malware has attached itself to your Android, it will relentlessly use the CPU and battery life to obtain digital currency. In the process, you may find the battery life of your phone draining or even heating up suddenly. Scarily enough, some bits of mining malware have learned to clone themselves, which means the virus can transfer to other devices on a network that your phone is connected to.

Read More: The Malware That’s Stealing Your Bitcoins (and How to Stop it)

Take these tips to heart to better protect yourself from nasty viruses such as the recently discovered cryptocurrency malware attack.

Third-Party Apps Don’t Play Around
While there’s no way to guarantee that malware won’t be nested in the apps you download, you can reduce your chances of infection by sticking to a reliable store such as the Google Play Store or the Amazon Appstore. Just this past January, Google removed sixty different compromised apps from its store. Sticking to reputable app stores is a smart way to stay away from shady sources.

Listen When Apps Are Speaking
When you download a new application to your Android phone, it will typically make you aware of any permissions it requires such as scanning your contacts to modifying the device itself. Determine what an application probably doesn’t need and understand what each permission allows an app to access. Use common sense here, if a calculator app needs access to your camera, microphone, and contact list – something is dodgy. You’re better off deleting the app than taking a risk.

Call in the Virus Scanning Reinforcements
Truthfully, it’s nearly impossible to stay up to date, detect, and avoid every strain of malware out there. The good news is there are antivirus applications that can help. dfndr security is one reliable app that has a full-virus scan feature, which scans your Android phone’s memory and SD card for any threats, removing them completely.

Just you alone can’t fight off these cryptocurrency miners, but having these tips and a strong security app will no longer make you a slave to hackers looking to hog your phone’s power.