The Microsoft Store is perceived by many to be one of the most secure digital storefronts due to the sandbox nature of the apps available there. In fact, Microsoft even launched Windows 10 S back in 2017 which allowed users to only download apps from the Microsoft Store in an effort to boost security.
However, it appears that the security of the Store has been somewhat compromised, with a new report claiming that the Microsoft Store hosted several apps - potentially downloaded by thousands - that illegally mined cryptocurrencies in the background.
In a blog post, U.S.-based cybersecurity firm Symantec has meticulously detailed how it found at least eights free apps - now removed by Microsoft - in the Store that utilized the CPU's resources to mine cryptocurrencies without the permission of the user. These apps operated in the background, and affected people who use Windows 10 in S Mode as well.
Although these apps were created under three different developer names, Symantec's inspection of their respective codes have led them to believe that they may be created by the same person or group of people.