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Linux Worm targets Internet-enabled Home appliances to Mine Cryptocurrencies

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[![Linux Worm targets Internet-enabled Home appliances to Mine Cryptocurrencies](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XAsXMXrVRn4/Uyqy3GL-9EI/AAAAAAAAatg/T1_l1UZYSNI/s728/Linux-malware-Internet-of-Things-security-app.png)](<https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XAsXMXrVRn4/Uyqy3GL-9EI/AAAAAAAAatg/T1_l1UZYSNI/s1600/Linux-malware-Internet-of-Things-security-app.png>) Could a perfectly innocent looking device like router, TV set-top box or security cameras can mine Bitcoins? YES! Hackers will not going to spare the Smart Internet-enabled devices. A Linux worm named **_Linux.Darlloz_**, earlier used to target _Internet of Things (IoT)_ devices, i.e. Home Routers, Set-top boxes, Security Cameras, printers and Industrial control systems; now have been upgraded to mine Crypto Currencies like Bitcoin. Security Researcher at Antivirus firm [Symantec](<http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/iot-worm-used-mine-cryptocurrency>) spotted the Darlloz Linux worm back in November and they have spotted the latest variant of the worm in mid-January this year. _Linux.Darlloz_ worm exploits a PHP vulnerability (__[CVE-2012-1823](<https://thehackernews.com/2013/11/Linux-ELF-malware-php-cgi-vulnerability.html>)__) to propagate and is capable to infect devices those run Linux on Intel’s x86 chip architecture and other embedded device architectures such as PPC, MIPS and MIPSEL. The latest variant of _Linux.Darlloz_ equipped with an open source crypto currency mining tool called '_[cpuminer](<https://sourceforge.net/projects/cpuminer/>)_', could be used to mine Mincoins, Dogecoins or [Bitcoins](<https://thehackernews.com/search/label/Bitcoin>). Symantec Researchers scanned the entire address space of the Internet and found 31,716 devices infected with Darlloz. "_By the end of February 2014, the attacker mined 42,438 Dogecoins (approximately US$46 at the time of writing) and 282 Mincoins (approximately US$150 at the time of writing). These amounts are relatively low for the average cybercrime activity so, we expect the attacker to continue to evolve their threat for increased monetization._" Kaoru Hayashi, senior development manager and threat analyst with Symantec in Japan. Major infected countries are China, the U.S., South Korea, Taiwan and India. [![Linux Worm targets Internet-enabled Home appliances to Mine Cryptocurrencies](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EtVgrEz1c3o/UyqcCffn2-I/AAAAAAAAas8/tx2Irf9tGFA/s728/Darlloz-hack-malware.png)](<https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EtVgrEz1c3o/UyqcCffn2-I/AAAAAAAAas8/tx2Irf9tGFA/s1600/Darlloz-hack-malware.png>) Crypto Currency typically requires more memory and a powerful CPUs, so the [malware](<https://thehackernews.com/search/label/Malware>) could be updated to target other IoT devices in the future, such as home automation devices and wearable technology. A Few weeks back, Cisco has announced a global and industry-wide initiative to bring the Security community and Researchers together to contribute in securing the Internet of Things (IoT) and launched a contest called the "**[Internet of Things Grand Security Challenge](<https://thehackernews.com/2014/03/Internet-of-Things-Security-Apps.html>)**", offering prizes of up to $300,000 for winners. Users are advised to update firmware and apply security patches for all software installed on computers or Internet-enabled devices. Make sure, you are not using default username or password for all devices and block port 23 or 80 from outside if not required.


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