Torrent files of 'Spider-Man' infected with crypto mining malware

Crooks are capitalizing on the new Spider-Man movie. Russian torrent files of newly released 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' are infected with a cryptocurrency mining malware, ReasonLabs has found. The miner adds exclusions to Windows Defender, creates persistence, and spawns a watchdog process to maintain its activity, it said. While the malware doesn't compromise personal information, it can lead to a significant increase in users' electricity bills.

Researchers have warned that a malicious torrent file is doing the rounds, masquerading as the new Spider-Man: No Way Home movie. Downloading the torrent infects the victim's device with malware than mines Monero cryptocurrency.

To avoid detection, the malware strain is capable of adding exclusions to Windows Defender to avoid detection. It also creates persistence and even a watchdog process to make sure it runs without disruption, ReasonLabs explained.

Taking up CPU power, crypto mining malware absorbs a large proportion of the infected computer's memory, reducing performance dramatically. Furthermore, cryptominers can also result in high electricity bills for the victim.