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Topic: 2013-04-05 - PC World AU - Bitcoin mining malware spreading on Skype (Read 1476 times)

legendary
Activity: 1428
Merit: 1093
Core Armory Developer
Is it really likely they would be able to get 200,000 computers (presumably using 99% of CPU) actually working (presumably undetected) for that to work?


See the historical list of botnets on wikipedia.  Tens of millions of computers were compromised.   And don't forget that the coins mined are literally free for the operator (besides the legal risk).  If they are successful, even $20/day is an extra $600/month for doing nothing.

Does it matter? As long as the blocks are not empty, then the botnets just add to the Bitcoin network. Shows how powerful the model is.  New headline: Botnets enslaved by Bitcoin!

You're right, it doesn't matter from the network's perspective.  I was just dispelling the idea that it's not worth CPU mining with your botnet.  
legendary
Activity: 1078
Merit: 1006
100 satoshis -> ISO code
Is it really likely they would be able to get 200,000 computers (presumably using 99% of CPU) actually working (presumably undetected) for that to work?


See the historical list of botnets on wikipedia.  Tens of millions of computers were compromised.   And don't forget that the coins mined are literally free for the operator (besides the legal risk).  If they are successful, even $20/day is an extra $600/month for doing nothing.

Does it matter? As long as the blocks are not empty, then the botnets just add to the Bitcoin network. Shows how powerful the model is.  New headline: Botnets enslaved by Bitcoin!
legendary
Activity: 1428
Merit: 1093
Core Armory Developer
Is it really likely they would be able to get 200,000 computers (presumably using 99% of CPU) actually working (presumably undetected) for that to work?


See the historical list of botnets on wikipedia.  Tens of millions of computers were compromised.   And don't forget that the coins mined are literally free for the operator (besides the legal risk).  If they are successful, even $20/day is an extra $600/month for doing nothing.
legendary
Activity: 1890
Merit: 1086
Ian Knowles - CIYAM Lead Developer
Is it really likely they would be able to get 200,000 computers (presumably using 99% of CPU) actually working (presumably undetected) for that to work?
legendary
Activity: 1428
Merit: 1093
Core Armory Developer
I wouldn't say it's that stupid.  One user turning on their CPU to mine Bitcoins at 5 MH/s is a total waste of electricity for that user.  But someone running 200,000 stolen CPU miners gets them 1 TH/s for free -- about $1000/day while the compromised users pay for the electricity!

vip
Activity: 756
Merit: 503
full member
Activity: 218
Merit: 100
Trying to use CPU to mine bitcoins in 2013 - got to wonder exactly who would write something as stupid as that...


+1
legendary
Activity: 1890
Merit: 1086
Ian Knowles - CIYAM Lead Developer
Trying to use CPU to mine bitcoins in 2013 - got to wonder exactly who would write something as stupid as that...
full member
Activity: 218
Merit: 100
A new Skype spam campaign directs users to malware that uses the computer's CPU to mine Bitcoins, according Kaspersky Lab researchers.
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/458227/bitcoin_mining_malware_spreading_skype_researcher_says/
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