Infamous Monero cryptojacking group has returned and is targeting companies in the US
- The group called “Outlaw” has reportedly started hijacking Linux-based systems to force them into mining cryptocurrency.
- Outlaw has also updated its hacking kit, expanding its scanner parameters and targets.
According to a report by Japanese cybersecurity firm Trend Micro, the Monero cryptojacking hacker group called “Outlaw” has returned and is targeting businesses in the US and Europe. The group has started hijacking Linux-based systems to force them into mining cryptocurrency, as per the report. It also claims that Outlaw had gone silent since last June before making a reappearance in December.
Trend Micro says that the hacker group has updated its earlier hacking kit, expanding its scanner parameters and targets with “improved evasion techniques.” Having improved its mining profits, Outlaw has outperformed previous miners and other cryptojacking groups.
Trend Micro’s analysis says the hacking kits were designed to steal data from the automotive and finance industries and also launch subsequent attacks on already compromised systems. The report reads:
We think Outlaw may be aiming to go after enterprises that have yet to update their systems, assessing security and changes with their previously infected hosts, finding new and old targets.
Author
Rajarshi Mitra
Independent Analyst
Rajarshi entered the blockchain space in 2016. He is a blockchain researcher who has worked for Blockgeeks and has done research work for several ICOs. He gets regularly invited to give talks on the blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies.
