# Graphic designers attacked by hidden miners

By [WebDev](https://paragraph.com/@webdev) · 2023-09-12

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Cybercriminals have been utilizing the legitimate Windows Advanced Installer tool to infect the computers of graphic designers with cryptocurrency miners, as reported by specialists from Cisco Talos. The malware is concealed within the installers of popular 3D modeling and graphic design software, including Adobe Illustrator, Autodesk 3ds Max, and SketchUp Pro.

The choice of these applications is strategic, as designers, animators, and video editors often use computers equipped with powerful graphics processors, making them lucrative targets for cryptojacking.

This campaign has been active since at least November 2021. The majority of victims are located in France and Switzerland, with instances of infection also reported in the United States, Canada, Germany, Algeria, and Singapore.

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*Originally published on [WebDev](https://paragraph.com/@webdev/graphic-designers-attacked-by-hidden-miners)*