50,000 MS-SQL and PHPMyAdmin Servers Infected with Cryptocurrency Mining Malware, Researchers Found
50,000 MS-SQL and PHPMyAdmin Servers Infected with Cryptocurrency Mining Malware, Researchers Found Researchers at Guardicore revealed that 50,000 Microsoft SQL and PHPMyAdmin servers from different parts of the world and belonging to companies in the healthcare, telecommunications, media and IT sectors had been compromised and infected with a cryptocurrency mining malware – malicious software that secretly uses someone else’s computer for cryptocurrency mining. Cryptocurrency mining performs a dual function: first, for approving transactions, and second, for releasing new cryptocurrency into circulation. In many countries, cryptocurrency mining isn’t illegal. In countries where cryptocurrency mining is allowed, cryptocurrency mining is only illegal when this is done without the explicit permission from the computer owner – an act known as cryptojacking. In 2017, during the unprecedented rise of cryptocurrency prices, especially the top…