Google has noted that there are many unidentified users using Cloud services of Google for a purpose that is not authorized by Google and is a non-intended purpose i.e. mining digital currencies via Google Cloud. Google’s warning was published in a report called “Threat Horizons” which details how some users are using Cloud services for minting digital currencies. The leading web browser of the world notes that at least 86% of the non-authorized use cases of Google Cloud services were related to minting digital currencies.
It has been noticed by Google in recent times that its Cloud services are being misused by crypto criminals. Google noted that some of the Cloud users are unaware that their accounts at Cloud have been compromised. The security credentials of these accounts have been breached because the accounts had weak security passcodes. In addition, some of the Cloud accounts, which have been comprised, did not have any passcode security enabled. Consequently, the unauthorized accessors of these accounts have been using others’ Cloud accounts for minting digital currencies.
Resultantly, an official warning under the document titled “Threat Horizons” has been made public by Google Inc. Google noted that its Cloud service is capable of processing enough power source which can then be utilized for minting crypto coins. The world’s leading internet browser noted that the majority of compromised Cloud’s accounts (approximately 86%) were in fact used for mining purposes.
Google’s report stated that through the Google Cloud, a CPU’s processing efficiency can be easily boosted. This then enables the Cloud user to turn his or her CPU into a processing beast for mining cryptocurrencies. In addition, Chia, which too is a cryptocurrency, can easily be mined via Google Cloud. For instance, for mining Chia, a person is required to have massive storage available in the computer. This storage alternative is obtained in the shape of Google Cloud, said Google.
The report contains a detailed analysis carried out by Google of its Cloud services. It was noted by Google that crypto malicious actors are easily breaching into others’ Cloud accounts. One of the most common reasons for account breaches is due to weaker passwords. It has further been noted that a large number of Cloud accounts have no security passcodes at all.
Google also took notice that Google is not alone which is facing this problem. In fact, other cloud service providers of the world too have been facing exactly the same issues.
As a security check, the warning has been made public by Google. Each and every user of Cloud has been advised to reset their passwords to ensure that they have applied strong passwords. In addition, Google has requested the users to immediately apply passwords to their Google Cloud accounts.
