Symantec catches 8 apps on Microsoft Store that secretly mined for cryptocoin
Yeah if you allow APPs in your store too easily, well could happen with your data, and what else can be done to make a profit? Well, you have an entire PC at your disposal some fraudulent APP designs figured, let's mine for crypto coin.
Symantec discovered eight malicious apps in the Microsoft Store that silently make use of your computer resources to mine cryptocurrencies. The apps were disguised as computer and battery optimization tutorial, internet search, web browsers, and video viewing and download app reports myce.
After the apps were installed, they downloaded and executed the CoinHive Javascript library. This Javascript library is sometimes also used by criminals to mine cryptocurrencies on websites and advertisements. CoinHive can only mine the privacy focused Monero cryptocurrency. The malicious apps were added to the Microsoft Store between April and December last year.
“Even though the apps were on the app store for a relatively short period, a significant number of users may have downloaded them,” according to the security researchers. One app even had more than 1,900 reviews. The researchers do note hat this number could have been artificially inflated by (purchased) fake reviews.
After Microsoft was informed about the issue, the company removed the apps from the store.
Senior Member
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Joined: 2003-11-22
So in other words, Microsoft doesn't bother to run the apps even once.
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Joined: 2014-07-21
Your m$ store is brought to you by the same people that have given you hits like the all present Windows Defender.
You mean like their updates recently?

Senior Member
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Joined: 2011-12-31
The main selling point of app stores is security. Without that, the MS store is more useless than it already is together with the limitations of UWP. Even Google Play/chrome store has these issues. Meh.
Senior Member
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Joined: 2014-07-22
If it's at all like the crypto-mining virus/malware I picked up a few years ago, it is anything *but* silent, fortunately. I noticed it because of my GPU fans ramping up to full when I was web browsing. Chased down the symptoms on the Internet and found a very easy-to-execute removal remedy--on a Steam forum, believe it or not. It amounted only to a few simple file deletions--no 3rd-party AV software required in that case. Nuked it immediately, and never had trouble again. Never did know where I picked it up, though...that was the baffling thing. (the Microsoft store either didn't exist at the time, or I had not used it, can't recall which.)
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Joined: 2015-02-09
Battery optimizer app logo and VPN+ app logo are misplaced. Why i did bother to point this out i have no idea.