Share this article
NSA 'DoubleStar' Backdoor Blamed for Cryptocurrency Mining Malware
A type of cryptocurrency mining malware has spread due to an exploit developed by the US National Security Agency.
By Wolfie Zhao
Updated Sep 11, 2021, 1:28 p.m. Published Jun 21, 2017, 5:30 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
A type of cryptocurrency mining malware has spread due to an exploit developed by the US National Security Agency, cybersecurity researchers say.
According to Dr.Web, a Russian anti-virus vendor, the NSA's "DoublePulsar" backdoor – which was leaked earlier this year by a group called the Shadow Brokers – allows the entry of a Trojan program that installs software to secretly mine the privacy-oriented digital currency monero.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
In a 15th June blog post, Dr.Web laid out the nuts and bolts of the malware, noting:
"This malicious program, designed for mining the Monero cryptocurrency, was dubbed Trojan.BtcMine.1259. Trojan.DownLoader24.64313 downloads the miner to a computer. This loader Trojan is distributed via the backdoor DoublePulsar."
It's not immediately clear how many machines have been infected with the malware due to the NSA exploit, and a representative for the company wasn't immediately available to comment when reached.
Wired reported in April that tens of thousands of machine were impacted following the exploit's release.
DoublePulsar has also been identified as a factor in the recent "WannaCry" ransomware attacks, which impacted hundreds of thousands of computers across the globe.
Image via Shutterstock
More For You
Pudgy Penguins is building a multi-vertical consumer IP platform — combining phygital products, games, NFTs and PENGU to monetize culture at scale.
What to know:
Pudgy Penguins is emerging as one of the strongest NFT-native brands of this cycle, shifting from speculative “digital luxury goods” into a multi-vertical consumer IP platform. Its strategy is to acquire users through mainstream channels first; toys, retail partnerships and viral media, then onboard them into Web3 through games, NFTs and the PENGU token.
The ecosystem now spans phygital products (> $13M retail sales and >1M units sold), games and experiences (Pudgy Party surpassed 500k downloads in two weeks), and a widely distributed token (airdropped to 6M+ wallets). While the market is currently pricing Pudgy at a premium relative to traditional IP peers, sustained success depends on execution across retail expansion, gaming adoption and deeper token utility.
More For You
Circle’s biggest bear just threw in the towel, but warns the stock is still a crypto roller coaster
Circle’s rising correlation with ether and DeFi exposure drives the re-rating, despite valuation and competition concerns.
What to know:
- Compass Point’s Ed Engel upgraded Circle (CRCL) to Neutral from Sell and cut his price target to $60, arguing the stock now trades more as a proxy for crypto markets than as a standalone fintech.
- Engel notes that CRCL’s performance is increasingly tied to the ether and broader crypto cycles, with more than 75% of USDC supply used in DeFi or on exchanges, and the stock is still trading at a rich premium.
- Potential catalysts such as the CLARITY Act and tokenization of U.S. assets could support USDC growth, but Circle faces mounting competition from new stablecoins and bank-issued “deposit coins,” and its revenue may remain closely linked to speculative crypto activity for years.
Top Stories
