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Topic: Bitcoin-mining by botnets (updated paper link) (Read 8348 times)

newbie
Activity: 42
Merit: 0
December 27, 2013, 07:10:42 AM
#15
Thanks crazyideas21 for the link, it's known buy still really interesting to read a technical paper.
I also think they didn't disappear from crypto scene, they just moved to other coins, especially CPU-only coins where there is no competition, and convert to BTC
They are still here..
legendary
Activity: 2912
Merit: 6403
Blackjack.fun
It was already discussed a long time ago why Zeroaccess stopped mining bitcoins.
The ASICS drove them away and if they still mine LTC this won't last too long.

But new coins or CPU designed ones are in real danger.
I'm interested how quark will try to protect it's network with a coming reward of 20cents/minute , 12$/hour.


legendary
Activity: 1274
Merit: 1004
I think they go for primecoins these days cause botnets are CPU mining I would think

People started mining primecoin with botnet just some after it was launched. Most of them are doing protoshares now.
hero member
Activity: 1036
Merit: 500
I think they go for primecoins these days cause botnets are CPU mining I would think
sr. member
Activity: 406
Merit: 250
You don't need evidence. It is pure logic. It became more profitable to mine other coins other then BTC then convert those coins to BTC or keep them. Those botnet networks didn't stop mining BTC, they just moved on to other coins. 
newbie
Activity: 33
Merit: 0
There are probably big botnets mining CPU coins such as XPM and PTS

Have you seen any evidence? I'm interested in finding out. Thanks!
full member
Activity: 140
Merit: 100
There are probably big botnets mining CPU coins such as XPM and PTS
member
Activity: 287
Merit: 10
newbie
Activity: 33
Merit: 0
Botnet mining for BTC ended a long time ago (in BTC time).  LTC botnets using CPUs might still be prevalent.

The paper arrived at a similar conclusion. Some open questions remain: How prevalent are LTC botnets? Are they employing similar attack models? If one day LTC mining becomes unprofitable, would botnets switch to the alternative coins?
DrG
legendary
Activity: 2086
Merit: 1035
Botnet mining for BTC ended a long time ago (in BTC time).  LTC botnets using CPUs might still be prevalent.
newbie
Activity: 33
Merit: 0
member
Activity: 287
Merit: 10
Thanks the information crazyideas21.

Do you have a better link to the pdf, as having problems with this download link.


Here is a study on botnets that mined bitcoins.

Paper: http://sysnet.ucsd.edu/~dhuang/get.php?f=ndss14-cr.pdf
legendary
Activity: 2156
Merit: 1131
Interesting.
member
Activity: 70
Merit: 10
And what are we supposed to discuss?
newbie
Activity: 33
Merit: 0
Here is a study on botnets that mined bitcoins.

Paper: http://sysnet.ucsd.edu/~dhuang/static/ndss14-cr.pdf (updated the link; previously broken)

Key findings:

(1) Botnets that we know have earned at least the following amounts (Table I in the paper):
https://i.imgur.com/bEIFAiV.png

(2) A stacked-line graph showing at least how much each botnet earned over time (Figure 2):
https://i.imgur.com/U59Noej.png

(3) Bitcoin mining (especially for botnets) is getting increasingly unprofitable (Figure 9):
https://i.imgur.com/suLubDv.png

(4) With declining Bitcoin-mining profitability, more Litecoin-mining malware can be found (Figure 10):
https://i.imgur.com/YHJKfeM.png
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