Hackers exploit Russian smart homes to mine crypto, launch DDoS attacks

Russian smart homes are being turned into silent cyber weapons.

According to a report published by Russia’s state-run TASS news agency on March 24, cybercriminals are exploiting vulnerabilities in household smart devices to create botnets.

These botnets are being used to mine cryptocurrencies and carry out Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks.

With no public data on the scale of the operation or the entry points, the exploitation highlights growing risks in Internet of Things (IoT) networks, especially as the global adoption of smart home technology rises.

Crypto mining through smart homes

The reported attacks centre around smart home systems being repurposed into crypto mining hubs.

Law enforcement sources told TASS that hackers are hijacking devices such as smart toothbrushes, temperature sensors, and surveillance cameras.

These are then added to a decentralised botnet infrastructure, enabling attackers to use processing power for mining cryptocurrency.

Simultaneously, these botnets are also being leveraged to conduct DDoS attacks.

The exact methods being used to exploit the devices remain unclear, and the agency has not disclosed which specific systems or manufacturers are affected.

Still, the incident points to a wider trend in cybercriminal strategies, where household devices become low-profile entry points for complex cyber operations.

Surveillance risks from device access

Beyond financial exploitation, the report suggests potential breaches of personal security.

Hackers may be gaining access to live or stored video from security cameras and collecting usage data from other connected devices.

These could include patterns from temperature sensors or brushing routines logged by smart toothbrushes—data that may help attackers determine whether a resident is home.

The concern is not only about the theft of data or processing power, but also how the information can be weaponised.

In past cases, similar vulnerabilities have been used to track individuals, map their behaviours, or prepare for physical intrusion.

The latest case has reignited debate over data privacy and the urgency of strengthening IoT cybersecurity protocols.

Crypto theft via browser malware

The smart home exploitation report comes amid ongoing issues around crypto-targeted malware.

In 2022, crypto.news detailed a malware strain hidden in downloadable movie files that targeted torrent users.

This malware executed a PowerShell command to inject malicious code into the Firefox browser.

The objective was to hijack cryptocurrency transactions—specifically replacing Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) wallet addresses with the attacker’s own.

Aside from stealing crypto funds, the malware could manipulate Google search results, mine cryptocurrencies in the background, and even redirect Wikipedia donations.

The malware campaign showed how cybercriminals are layering different objectives—ranging from theft and disruption to reputation attacks—into single malware deployments.

IoT flaws enable crypto attacks

As the number of smart home installations grows, so does the potential attack surface.

Russia’s latest report underscores how IoT devices—once considered too small or weak to pose significant risk—can be scaled into powerful tools for cybercrime.

The exploitation of common household devices for both surveillance and crypto mining signals a hybrid threat that targets personal safety and financial assets.

The broader lesson from the report lies in the convergence of seemingly unrelated technologies: smart home systems and decentralised finance.

While smart homes offer convenience and automation, their vulnerabilities are now being tapped by attackers motivated by the financial rewards of mining and stealing cryptocurrencies.

With Russia’s law enforcement agencies still investigating the case, more specific details may emerge in the coming weeks.

Until then, the incident serves as a reminder for consumers and manufacturers alike to invest in security updates, firmware integrity, and encrypted communications for all IoT devices.

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