Crypto jacking, which occurs when cybercriminals install malware on corporate and personal computers, printers, and handheld devices, is a form of malicious crypto mining. The app uses the strength and energy of the machine to mine cryptocurrency or steal wallets from innocent cryptocurrency victims. It is easy to deploy, runs in the background, and can be hard to detect.

With only a few lines of code, hackers could hijack any machine, leaving naive victims with sluggish computer response times, overheating computer equipment, and higher energy bills. Hackers use these tools to steal cryptocurrency from other digital wallets and to enable hijacked machines to mine crypto coins.