Bitcoin Price Increases by 4%, Eyes Move to $7,000 as Market Gains $19 Billion

A security expert says that rising cryptocurrency prices can lead to a surge in cryptojacking of people’s smart homes.

If there’s one thing that movies have educated us on, it’s that there’s always some form of unintended consequences when it comes to new technology. Usually this comes in the form of horrific doom as mankind is wiped out by killer robots or some terrible plague. Yet there are some unforeseen events that can occur as people begin to accept and embrace something that appears initially mundane, such as smart appliances in one’s home. One interesting possibility with some slightly sinister overtones is that a person’s smart home could be attacked via cryptojacking due to the exploding price in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Increased Tech Means Increased Vulnerability

Technology has become an integral part of our everyday lives, from smart phones to streaming movies at home. The normal person looks to harness the power of technology to make their life easier and more fulfilling, but others look to harness technology to put money in their pockets. While such an attitude isn’t a bad thing on the surface, the method that they use to do so can be. Case in point is people hijacking the tech of others to surreptitiously mine cryptocurrency.

The increasing value of cryptocurrency means that it can be very profitable to mine crypto, especially if you’re not paying for the equipment or power to do so. One common means that illicit miners use is to slip some code onto a website to harness the computers of those visiting the site. A popular choice is the Coin Hive malware that has been found on many sites, including that of the UFC. Without any consent or knowledge, your computer could be tasked to mine for some crypto.

However, such mining hacks don’t end there. Your smart phone may be infected as well. 2017 saw a 34% surge in mobile apps that featured code for mining cryptocurrencies. Even the insanely popular Facebook Messenger app was found to have been infected with a crypto mining hack. Now this illicit mining can even have an impact upon your home.

Home Sweet Home

The latest possible target, according to some security experts, for illicit crypto miners is your smart home. It seems that smart devices can be the target of cryptojacking, where your internet-connected appliances could be used to mine various virtual currencies. Such devices can include light bulbs, cameras, and even thermostats.

The director of advisory services for EMEA at cyber security firm IOActive, Neil Haskins, told The Independent:

Any device that is ‘smart’ now has the three key ingredients to provide the cyber bad guy with everything they need – internet access, power and processing.

I can introduce my crypto-mineware via a compromised mobile phone and start to exploit the processing power of your home devices to mine bitcoin.

The results can be massively higher energy costs for the home owner. The really bad part is that they’re still on the hook for it as the power is being used. The insidious part is that such illicit crypto mining could go on for months without being detected. Who checks to see if their smart refrigerator is being used to mine Monero or some other cryptocurrency?

Haskins says that there are some ways to protect one’s home. He says that consumers should demand a security rating in addition to a smart appliance’s power efficiency. He also adds:

In the meantime, consider the entry point for most cyber bad guys. Generally, this is your desktop, laptop or mobile device. Therefore, ensure you have suitable security products running on these devices, make sure they are patched to the correct levels, and be conscious of the websites you are visiting. If you control the available entry points, you will go a long way to protecting your home.

The bad news is that some crook could cost you a higher energy bill while he makes bank off of your home through cryptojacking your smart devices. On the plus side, at least your smart home won’t be going berserk and trying to kill you like in a horror movie.

How possible is it for the average person to safeguard their smart home from illicit crypto miners? Are you worried about your home? Let us know in the comments below.

Images courtesy of Pixabay and Bitcoinist archives.

The post Cryptocurrency Price Surge Could Lead to Hacked Smart Homes appeared first on Bitcoinist.com.

Communication is essential in today’s busy world. Everywhere you turn, people are talking, texting blogging and surfing the Internet on their cell phones. With increased use, functionality and popularity, cell phone accessories were created to make toting around your portable device and staying connected 24/7 easier than ever before.

The Types of Cell Phone Accessories

When people hear the phrase, cell phone accessories, they often think of cases, covers and aesthetic additions to the cell phone. Cell phone accessories are not limited to aesthetics. There are many choices in the accessory market that prove more functional than beautiful.

For the MP3 compatible phone, there are accessories to listen to the music through your car speakers, portable speakers and charging devices that are essential due to the battery spent while listening to music. This is just one example of cell phone accessories that are more functional, common categories include batteries, Bluetooth, cases, clips, car chargers, home chargers, USB cables, car kits, mounts, wireless kits, downloads, applications and more.

How to Choose the Best Accessories

The first step in choosing the best cell phone accessories is understanding the model number of your phone. There are phone names and then there are model numbers. The Motorola Razr, for instance, is a phone name. Under that name there are many different models. The V3i offers integrated iTunes and will require an additional battery or portable charger on a regular basis. Other Razr models will not fit the same accessories as the V3i, or other Razr model numbers.

Once you know the name and model number of your cell phone, many manufacturers and online retailers will list the available accessories. Just because an accessory is available for one cell phone does not mean it will be available for every cell phone. This means researching the accessories available for a cell phone before choosing the phone may be a money saving option in the long run.

Another huge factor in choosing the accessories for your cell phone is your daily life. If you use your cell phone in the car, a car mount will increase safety. If you use your phone only occasionally, a Bluetooth earpiece may not be something you will benefit from. The idea is to ask yourself these questions:

• What do I do with my cell phone every day?
• Do my activities require additional battery life?
• Am I using my cell phone to its full capacity?
• Is the accessory cost going to be recouped in ease of use?
• Will I use the accessory every day?

Cell phones are available all over the world; keeping people connected to each other 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This constant connection and the huge increases in network speeds and connectivity between the Internet and the cell phone point toward the accessory market. The more your phone can do the more accessories available to make that cell phone and your use of the cell phone, all the easier and more productive.

The post Selecting the Best Accessories for Your Cell Phone appeared first on Mokey International.