A new Monero cryptojacking malware distributed via “cracked” versions of popular online games is wiping out antivirus programs (AVs) and surreptitiously mining cryptocurrency in more than a dozen countries, researchers have found.
Dubbed “Crackonosh,” the malware — which has been active since June 2018 — lurks in pirated versions of Grand Theft Auto V, NBA 2K19 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 that gamers can download free in forums, according to a report posted online Thursday by researchers at Avast. The name means “mountain spirit” in Czech folklore, a reference to the researchers’ belief that the creators of the malware are from the Czech Republic.