Nothing to laugh about - New Linux Trojans installs crypto currency mining software on Raspberry Pi

The following was spotted on a news summary page and posted here, largely for information.

New Linux Trojans installs crypto currency mining software on Raspberry Pi
guru3d.com (press release) – ‎9 hours ago‎.
Researchers from Russian antivirus vendor Dr. Web have found a new type of Linux malware that infects Raspberry Pi computers. The malware is called Linux.

Although a worry for most Pi users, the humour I saw was in the last sentence of the line above.

The motto, put RISC OS on your Pi, it tastes better. :D

New Linux Trojans installs crypto currency mining software on Raspberry Pi

The Pi would be astonishingly bad at mining. I cant imagine the install base would net that much cash.

“Mining” crypto currency?

Yet another attempt to create money out of nothing…

Yet another attempt to create money out of nothing…

It’s actually a pseudo-commodity because electricity to generate it isn’t trivial.

It’s actually a pseudo-commodity because electricity to generate it isn’t trivial.

It’s totally trivial if you use viral code on a total strangers kit and use their electricity.

It’s totally trivial if you use viral code on a total strangers kit and use their electricity.

Probably why they did it. Still seems a lot of effort for a little return. Hitting gamers PCs makes more sense.

Yet another attempt to create money out of nothing…

Apart from banknotes and coins, money is always created out of nothing. That is, in the UK, 97% of money is created out of nothing – a fairly typical ratio worldwide.

money is always created out of nothing

Although back in the day, it was backed by gold. At one point, you could take your necessary notes (I forget to which govt office) and claim your bar of gold. I think it was Margaret Thatcher’s government that changed that. So although British notes still say “I promise to pay the bearer on demand the some of …” they really don’t.

We use money because we think it’s worth something, when in reality we’re trading empty promises. xD

I think it was Margaret Thatcher’s government that changed that.

No. Britain abandoned the gold standard on September 19th 1931.

Britain abandoned the gold standard on September 19th 1931.

In all fairness, I did learn about it from Wikipedia a few years ago and we all know how inaccurate that can be at times.

Oh, no criticism of you implied whatsoever. In fairness, I have to admit I learned the exact date (assuming it’s right) from Wikipedia just moments before posting it here.

However, I did only look it up because I knew (E&OE) it was sometime around then, but didn’t know which year, never mind the exact date…