What is cryptojacking?

What is cryptojacking?

• A. Illegally mining cryptocurrency using automated software
• B. Your computer being hacked for data theft
• C. Software that manages cryptocurrency transactions
• D. A method for securely storing blockchain data

Answer: (A)

Cryptojacking refers to the unauthorized use of someone else's computer or machine to mine cryptocurrency. This typically occurs when an attacker injects malicious code into a website or software, which then exploits the computational resources of the victim's device without their consent. The purpose of this activity is to generate cryptocurrency, which can be quite resource-intensive and thus allows the attacker to profit at the expense of the victim's system performance and electricity consumption. In this context, the correct choice highlights the essence of cryptojacking: it involves illegal actions disguised as legitimate processes, where automated software takes control of the target machine to mine digital currencies. This practice not only affects the victim's hardware but can also lead to decreased performance, increased energy costs, and potential security vulnerabilities if the malware goes undetected for an extended period. The other choices do not accurately capture the definition or mechanism of cryptojacking, as they pertain to different aspects of cybersecurity and cryptocurrency management.

Cryptojacking refers to the unauthorized use of someone else's computer or machine to mine cryptocurrency. This typically occurs when an attacker injects malicious code into a website or software, which then exploits the computational resources of the victim's device without their consent. The purpose of this activity is to generate cryptocurrency, which can be quite resource-intensive and thus allows the attacker to profit at the expense of the victim's system performance and electricity consumption.

In this context, the correct choice highlights the essence of cryptojacking: it involves illegal actions disguised as legitimate processes, where automated software takes control of the target machine to mine digital currencies. This practice not only affects the victim's hardware but can also lead to decreased performance, increased energy costs, and potential security vulnerabilities if the malware goes undetected for an extended period. The other choices do not accurately capture the definition or mechanism of cryptojacking, as they pertain to different aspects of cybersecurity and cryptocurrency management.