> > National Lab Creates Technology to Detect Cryptocurrency Mining Malware > High performance computing systems are increasingly at risk. > By Brandi Vincent, > Staff Correspondent > FEBRUARY 25, 2021 02:57 PM ET > https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2021/02/national-lab-creates-technology-detect-cryptocurrency-mining-malware/172304/ > > <https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2021/02/national-lab-creates-technology-detect-cryptocurrency-mining-malware/172304/> > > Idaho National Laboratory officials invented a means to speedily detect > hidden malware that exploits infected computing systems’ resources to mine > digital currencies. > > Now, they’re searching for an external partner with expertise to bring it to > market. > > “Advanced cryptocurrency mining algorithms, including Monero and Lightning, > that have been surreptitiously embedded into legitimate High-Performance > Computing (HPC) applications present an increasing threat to research data > centers and HPC systems throughout the world,” a technology licencing > opportunity post published this week reads. > > Access to the full solicitation is restricted to those who submit a contract > security form, but the post offers some details about the recently produced > technology. > > More than 2,000 types of cryptocurrencies exist, officials wrote in the post. > But mining Bitcoin and other online currencies is expensive and demands heaps > of hardware. Rates of energy and electricity consumed in the practice can > match those of some small countries and grow with demand. The officials point > to cryptojacking—or using HPC assets without authorization to mine the > money—as one way some have opted to reduce cost. > > “This technology details a highly accurate algorithm for detecting > cryptocurrency mining malware that may be embedded in otherwise legitimate > appearing HPC applications or otherwise obfuscated,” officials wrote. > Specifically, the invention “uses the attention mechanism in deep learning” > to spot hidden threats. > > It’s still a proof-of-concept and more testing will need to occur, but > officials said the tool holds promise to help better protect increasingly > targeted shared computing resources. > > Those interested in licensing it are invited to respond by March 10. >
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