How to Prevent Sites From Receiving Cryptocurrency From You
Your browser can do someone else’s dirty work behind your back, mining cryptocurrency for attackers, using your desktop computer or laptops to create a digital currency that can potentially be exchanged for real money. According to Wired , hackers have found a way to inject Javascript-based cryptocurrency mining software into compromised sites, borrowing your processing power (and slowing down your computer) to generate Monero cryptocurrency without the approval of the site or its visitors. Fortunately, there are several ways to stop dirty tactics without giving up the internet forever.
The browser-based cryptocurrency mining process isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and you can get involved even if you don’t have a single unit of digital currency. Initially, the company Coinhive, engaged in mining cryptocurrency, has created its own software for mining browser-based sites to help further monetize their content and allow them to reduce the number of ads that you see on their pages. All you need is your consent to provide a small fraction of the processing power of your computer’s processor for the mining process for a short period of time. Unfortunately, hackers have already written similar mining software that continues to use CPU power without the user’s consent, regardless of whether they are using the Coinhive browser-based mining tool or not. Continuous mining from multiple sites can potentially slow down your computer.
If you are worried that someone might affect your computer’s performance for personal use, you can download and install the NoCoin browser extension , which disables cryptocurrency mining tools on sites you have not approved. NoCoin was created by developer Rafael Keradimas and helps solve the problem of hacked sites abusing the potentially profitable tactics of borrowing visitors’ computers to mine cryptocurrency and monetize content with their consent. It is available for Firefox, Google Chrome and Opera browsers.
You can also take steps to block Javascript from running automatically by installing an ad blocker extension. We have recommended ad blocking tools like AdBlock Plus in the past as they prevent advertisers and other interested parties from learning about your browsing habits or sending you pop-up ads and malware.