How does a mining trojan perform security authentication?

A mining trojan, also known as cryptojacking malware, typically bypasses or exploits security authentication mechanisms to hijack system resources for cryptocurrency mining. Here's how it works and an example:

1. Bypassing Authentication:

   • The trojan may exploit vulnerabilities in software or operating systems to gain unauthorized access without requiring credentials.
   • It can also steal saved credentials from browsers or keyloggers to authenticate itself on systems.

2. Disabling Security Measures:

   • Some trojans disable antivirus software or firewall rules to avoid detection while mining.
   • They may modify system settings to ensure continuous operation.

3. Example:

   • A trojan like Coinhive (now defunct but historically significant) was injected into websites or software. It secretly used visitors' CPU resources for mining Monero without their consent, often by exploiting outdated browser plugins or weak website security.

For protecting systems against such threats, Tencent Cloud offers services like Host Security (CWP), which detects and blocks mining trojans by monitoring abnormal CPU usage, identifying malicious processes, and providing real-time alerts. Additionally, Tencent Cloud Web Application Firewall (WAF) helps prevent trojans from being injected into websites by filtering malicious traffic.