💻 Hackers using NSA leaked software flaw to mine crypto

According to a report by Cyber Threat Alliance, cases of illicit cryptocurrency mining have surged 456 percent in 2018 compared to last year. The spike is tied to a 2017 leak of Eternal Blue, a tool linked to the NSA that can exploit vulnerabilities in outdated Microsoft Systems software. Hackers are using the exploit to commandeer a users computing power in order to mine cryptocurrencies at no cost to the hacker. As of July this year, 85 percent of illicit mining has targeted Monero ($XMR) while Bitcoin ($BTC) accounted for around eight percent according to the report.