Android crypto miners grow +4000% in quantity in Q1 2018

Experts on cyber security report that the popularity of malicious Android cryptocurrency-mining applications has grown considerably during the first quarter of this year. The amount of mining viruses on this mobile operating system has grown +4000%. Ransom viruses, in turn, are becoming less popular. Viruses which extort cryptocurrency in exchange for the device storage unblock have dropped 35% in popularity, as clarified by the same experts.

Other news, however, leave an impression that ransomware viruses should not be ignored simply due to their popularity drop - the Hancock Regional Hospital in the United States has been breached, resulting in the block of sensitive medical records by the unknown extortionists. Steve Long, CEO of the hospital, eventually had to pay money to criminals. This happened in January but became known only recently thanks to a new report of the local media. Another notable example is the cyber attack on the systems of Atlanta.

Symantec, the organization which is also focused on cyber security, has recently stated that the popularity of mining viruses in general had grown +8500% in 2017.

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