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"How it works is technically complex," said William Malik, vice president for infrastructure strategies at Trend Micro. "The easy answer is the attacker gets the access point to rebroadcast part of the initial handshake, analyzes that information, and then the attacker can intercept the rest of the conversation," he told TechNewsWorld.

Connecting everyday devices to the Internet seems like a great idea, but users need to be mindful of the risks, warned JD Sherry, vice president of technology and solutions at Tokyo-based antivirus-software maker Trend Micro.

Analysts at Trend Micro, a cybersecurity firm, in 2014 discovered that copies of Football Manager Handheld, a smartphone game, and TuneIn Radio, an audio app, contained malicious software that mined cryptocurrencies, the proceeds of which were probably funneled to the developers.

When it comes to the Middle Eastern and North African underground, research from Trend Micro showed that the regional cybercrime marketplace has a few unique hallmarks, including a “spirit of sharing” mindset that hinges on a feeling of brotherhood and religious alliance that transcends the illicit transactions that occur.

TrendMicro researchers said the low price point reflected a unique aspect of brotherhood and comradery unlike what is seen other market places where the players only aim to make money.