Do you have the knack for downloading App you feel is interesting to use, or do you open or visit just any website you find interesting. If you are doing that then you have to be very careful. ICT has developed up to the point that if you are doing the above, you might just be mining a cryptocurrency for someone else using the resources on your computer or phone.
Its been in the news of late that there are some apps and websites that are doing this to unsuspecting user.
One of such sites is the American TV network Showtime that has been forced to remove code from two of its websites that secretly mined the privacy oriented cryptocurrency monero on visitors' computers or phone according to reports.
How is this done? It is by concealing code for CoinHive, a JavaScript-based monero miner
. Originally intended as a way for websites to generate income without having to utilize ads, in this case the software appears to have been used to covertly draw upon the computing power of unsuspecting site visitors.
BleepingComputer, that discuses about cybersecurity topics, have explained how this works. It also highlights, that it is not clear at this time who, exactly, inserted the code onto the Showtime websites. The code was spotted over the weekend and was removed by the firm on Monday.
The development is pronounced given the public profile of Showtime, which is owned by U.S. media giant CBS Corporation. It also comes days after torrent website The Pirate Bay sparked criticism for live-testing a JavaScript-based monero miner.
One begin to wonder, how many websites and apps are using the computing power of computers and phone users to mine cryptocurrencies. Only God knows.
If you are fond of installing app and browsing carelessly, you have to stop the habit.
My advice for you is to check your computers and phones and do a thorough cleanup. If you don't know how to do that, call an expert for help....
