Scamsters could try to hack into your
computer’s processing power to mine cryptocurrency and then convert it
into cold, hard cash, the Federal Trade Commission warned today. But
there are steps you can take to protect yourself, the FTC said.
“Cryptojacking,” as the crime is called, can happen when you visit a
website that uses cryptojacking code, click a link in a phishing email,
or mistype a web address.
When the fraudster is mining cryptocurrency on your device, it may
slow down, burn through battery power, or crash, the agency cautioned.
Here are some preventative actions you can take:
- Consider closing sites or apps that slow your device or drain your battery.
- Some ad blockers and browser extensions say they help defend against cryptojacking, but always do your homework first. Read reviews and check trusted sources before installing any online tools
- Set software and apps to update automatically.
- Never install software or apps you don’t trust, don’t click links
without knowing where they lead, and be careful about visiting
unfamiliar web sites.
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