Yahoo recently confirmed that it was running ads that were spreading malware on some of its sites. Now we learn that said malware was apparently turning infected machines into Bitcoin slaves.

The Guardian reports:

According to Light Cyber, a security research firm which warned Yahoo of the attacks in late December, one of the malware programs delivered in the attack turned the victim’s computer into a bitcoin miner. The computer is set to work performing the calculations required to make the bitcoin network run, but the rewards for doing so accrue to the malware writer.

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As well as the bitcoin mining malware, other software installed includes ZeuS, which attempts to steal banking information; Andromeda, which turns the computer into part of a “botnet” for use by third parties, and “adjacking” malware which hijacks the user’s browser to click on adverts, thus channeling income to corrupt site owners.

The news comes as Bitcoin advocates are trying to win over lawmakers.

Despite making a lot of announcements at CES this week, the malware story continues to draw headlines in the tech blogosphere, casting a PR shadow on an otherwise bright week for the company, which also included making Yahoo Mail more secure.

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