Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

What is the outcome for an attacker in a successful cryptojacking attack?

1. Access to user data

2. Cryptocurrency rewards

3. Ransom payments

4. Intellectual property theft

The correct answer is: Cryptocurrency rewards

In a successful cryptojacking attack, the primary outcome for the attacker is to receive cryptocurrency rewards. Cryptojacking involves the unauthorized use of someone else's computing resources to mine cryptocurrency. This means that when an attacker successfully implements a cryptojacking attack, they harness the processing power of the victim's device—often without the victim's knowledge—to perform complex calculations necessary to mine digital currencies. The mined cryptocurrency is then directed to the attacker’s wallet, providing them with financial gain. Unlike other types of cyber attacks that focus on stealing data, demanding ransoms, or hijacking intellectual property, cryptojacking is specifically centered on the financial benefits that come from mining new cryptocurrency coins. This makes the perspective of understanding cryptojacking unique, aligning the attacker's motives with the pursuit of digital currency rather than more traditional forms of hacking that focus on asset theft or ransom.