‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Crypto-Mining Malware Can Be Found In Pirated Downloads

Although Peter Parker is not a mastermind cryptocurrency criminal, the name Spiderman is increasingly intertwined with the mining surroundings. ReasonLabs, a leading supplier of cybersecurity preventative measures and detection software, recently found a new type of malware cleverly disguised as the latest Spiderman film and infiltrating customer computers.

ReasonLabs discovered cryptocurrency mining malware that masquerades as a torrent for the Spiderman: No Way Home movie, enticing viewers worldwide to download the file and expose their computers to criminals.

Using a Disguise to Persuade Customers to Download Malware

However, according to ReasonLabs, this is far from the first time perpetrators have attempted to dupe users into believing they are downloading something they want. While most people are aware of the risks of downloading unknown files, perpetrators are masters at making their downloads appear real. Before donning the Spiderman costume, this cryptocurrency mining malware may have appeared in various disguises. It’s also been swirling as apps like Discord or Windows Updater considers ReasonLabs. 

How does Spiderman Malware Work?

When a customer uses the file, the code creates persistence, adds exclusions to Windows Defender to prevent you from tracking its actions, and spawns watchdog for protection. The malware’s primary goal is to mine a cryptocurrency known as Monero (XMR), one of the more untraceable and anonymous cryptocurrencies popular on the dark web. 

ReasonLabs is still actively investigating where this malware originated, and we hope to have more information soon. In the meantime, be cautious about who you trust regarding spiders.