BARCELONA, SPAIN — Internet-connected devices could be at risk from hijacking by hackers and used to mine cryptocurrencies, according to cybersecurity firm Avast. <br />Avast ran a demonstration at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain which had several devices hijacked to run cryptocurrency mining software, CNBC reported. <br /><br />Based on their calculations, if hackers could attack 15,000 devices, they could be used to mine $1,000 worth of Monero digital cash in four days. <br />A theoretical attack would start with hackers taking over a network of devices and then using that combined computing power to mine digital currency. <br />Unlike Bitcoin, which requires substantial computing power to mine, Monero can be mined using a network of internet-connected devices.<br />Monero has grown in popularity among criminals as it advertises itself as being one of the most anonymous digital coins available.
