Security News > 2020 > April > Malicious USB Drives Infect 35,000 Computers With Crypto-Mining Botnet

Cybersecurity researchers from ESET on Thursday said they took down a portion of a malware botnet comprising at least 35,000 compromised Windows systems that attackers were secretly using to mine Monero cryptocurrency.

"The main activity of the botnet is mining Monero cryptocurrency," ESET said.

According to ESET researchers, VictoryGate propagates via removable devices such as USB drives, which, when connected to the victim machine, installs a malicious payload into the system.

With USB drives being used as a propagation vector, ESET warned of new infections that could occur in the future.

"And, given the fact that the botmaster can update functionality of the payloads that are downloaded and executed on the infected devices from crypto mining to any other malicious activities at any given time, this poses a considerable risk."

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