A mining trojan, also known as cryptojacking malware, formulates security strategies primarily to evade detection and maximize resource exploitation for cryptocurrency mining. Here's how it works and an example:
Evasion Techniques: The trojan uses methods like code obfuscation, process injection, or mimicking legitimate system processes to avoid antivirus detection. For instance, it might disguise itself as a Windows system service or hide within a browser extension.
Resource Management: To remain undetected, the trojan dynamically adjusts CPU/GPU usage, throttling mining activity during peak system usage to prevent performance degradation that could alert users.
Persistence Mechanisms: It installs itself as a startup service or modifies system files to ensure it runs automatically after reboots.
Network Obfuscation: The trojan may route mining traffic through proxy servers or encrypted channels (e.g., HTTPS) to bypass network monitoring tools.
Example: A mining trojan like "CoinMiner" infects a server by exploiting a vulnerable web application (e.g., an unpatched WordPress plugin). Once inside, it injects its code into legitimate processes like svchost.exe and limits CPU usage to 50% to stay hidden.
For businesses, Tencent Cloud's Host Security (CWP) can detect and block such threats by monitoring abnormal process behavior, analyzing file integrity, and providing real-time alerts. Additionally, Tencent Cloud Web Application Firewall (WAF) helps prevent trojans from exploiting web vulnerabilities.