Your Computer Could be Secretly Mining Crypto by lets-tech

cryptocurrency · @lets-tech · Jan 12 '18

$4.01

Your Computer Could be Secretly Mining Crypto

Do you find that when you open your web browser or when you visit a specific website it somehow makes your computer slow? Well if this has ever happened to you, there's a chance that you could be mining a cryptocurrency for someone else. This is called crypojacking.

![image](https://img.esteem.ws/caihtdlob4.jpg)

[Image source](https://pixabay.com/en/bitcoin-bitcoin-mining-mining-mine-2714191/)

## Cryptojacking

Browsing the internet without being bombarded by advertisements and websites still earn loads of money, sounds like a dream come true. This is actually happening right now with more and more websites using cryptojacking. Basically, they just run something like Coinhive on your computer, which drains your CPU and mines a cryptocurrency (usually Monero) and keep it all for themselves.
Cryptojacking is becoming an increasingly popular way for people to monetize their websites and even browser extensions. In fact, [research done by AdGuard](https://blog.adguard.com/en/crypto-mining-fever/), found that over 220 sites with an aggregated audience of 500 million people, uses cryptojacking.

![image](https://img.esteem.ws/biokd59c7i.jpg)
[Image source](https://blog.adguard.com/en/crypto-mining-fever/)

## Is it illegal to cryptojack?

No, it's just seen as unethical. Extensions and websites usually get a very bad rep for cryptojacking. Usually because they don't let users know that they will be cryptojacking. I don't mind cryptojacking being a means of monetisation, instead of a whole lot of trackers and advertisements, but I'd like to be aware that my computer might be running a little slower.

## How to protect your self from cryptojacking?

You can stop cryptojacking the same way you stop annoying advertisements, with an Ad blocker.
I use the [Brave web browser](Https://brave.com), I think that the developers at Brave have really found the way to make the internet perfect. The browser blocks advertisements and cryptojacking but it still allows websites to be monetised, by rewarding them with a cryptocurrency called BAT(basic attention token).

So what do you think about cryptojacking?
Do you prefer annoying advertisements or having a slow computer? I choose neither, because I use Brave and I recommend that you should try Brave as well.

![image](https://steemitimages.com/DQmd68A9gMh2ytKnJR1d6zbvnd1YgP1dvJa9oSMs3Lix5PB/392177397.gif)

## References

https://blog.adguard.com/en/crypto-mining-fever/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-your-computer-secretly-mining-bitcoin-alternatives-a-guide-to-ldquo-cryptojacking-rdquo/

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/what-is-cryptojacking/

https://basicattentiontoken.org

👍 justtryme90, lafona-miner, pharesim, steemstem, bue, kerriknox, lemouth, anarchyhasnogods, mobbs, mrs.agsexplorer, timsaid, dber, thevenusproject, geekpowered, pearlumie, gra, gentleshaid, jamhuery, nitesh9, the-devil, kenadis, mountainwashere, originalworks, lamouthe, fancybrothers, kedi, mystifact, amavi, ovij, lets-tech, abdu84, carloserp-2000, foundation, kharrazi, tormiwah, sco, somethingburger, rachelsmantra, rjbauer85, ongoingwow, alexander.alexis, hadji

properties (23)vote details (42)

voter	rshares	pct
pharesim	87,185,805,857	0.02%
lafona-miner	120,764,488,152	2.5%
bue	27,670,309,021	100%
mrs.agsexplorer	5,731,726,551	2%
justtryme90	132,880,768,757	4.25%
timsaid	4,940,930,227	1%
lemouth	16,926,916,110	5%
rjbauer85	157,941,436	5%
anarchyhasnogods	13,444,487,866	5%
lamouthe	942,016,979	5%
steemstem	54,448,026,611	5%
foundation	434,700,973	5%
the-devil	1,067,866,315	5%
thevenusproject	2,381,781,354	5%
jamhuery	1,500,378,004	5%
mobbs	10,406,001,259	5%
dber	3,446,649,023	5%
kerriknox	21,527,534,872	5%
alexander.alexis	120,902,747	0.5%
mystifact	738,886,085	5%
nitesh9	1,166,777,148	5%
fancybrothers	860,564,794	3.5%
ovij	674,921,367	5%
kharrazi	417,803,613	0.5%
mountainwashere	995,748,948	5%
somethingburger	214,920,663	5%
pearlumie	1,923,505,427	5%
originalworks	960,389,202	0.5%
tormiwah	360,810,136	2.5%
carloserp-2000	529,413,541	5%
rachelsmantra	193,103,174	5%
gra	1,672,975,037	5%
kedi	745,890,557	3.5%
lets-tech	614,995,399	100%
abdu84	592,998,829	100%
ongoingwow	152,675,785	4.25%
kenadis	1,005,349,423	5%
amavi	690,643,814	1%
geekpowered	2,080,399,305	1%
gentleshaid	1,569,598,057	5%
sco	258,330,303	1%
hadji	72,247,595	5%

`post_id`	25,235,743
`author`	lets-tech
`permlink`	re-lets-tech-your-computer-could-be-secretly-mining-crypto-a53809ca639ce-20180112t140628526z
`category`	cryptocurrency
`json_metadata`	"{"app": "steemit/0.1", "users": ["originalworks"], "tags": ["cryptocurrency"]}"
`created`	2018-01-12 14:06:30
`last_update`	2018-01-12 14:06:30
`depth`	1
`children`	1
`net_rshares`	0
`last_payout`	2018-01-19 14:06:30
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`promoted`	0.000 SBD
`body_length`	14
`author_reputation`	395,063,281,398
`root_title`	"Your Computer Could be Secretly Mining Crypto"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 SBD
`percent_steem_dollars`	10,000

`post_id`	25,375,125
`author`	originalworks
`permlink`	re-re-lets-tech-your-computer-could-be-secretly-mining-crypto-a53809ca639ce-20180112t140628526z-20180113t072948
`category`	cryptocurrency
`json_metadata`	"{"app": "pysteem/0.5.4"}"
`created`	2018-01-13 07:29:48
`last_update`	2018-01-13 07:29:48
`depth`	2
`children`	0
`net_rshares`	0
`last_payout`	2018-01-20 07:29:48
`cashout_time`	1969-12-31 23:59:59
`total_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`curator_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`pending_payout_value`	0.000 SBD
`promoted`	0.000 SBD
`body_length`	490
`author_reputation`	79,229,860,066,508
`root_title`	"Your Computer Could be Secretly Mining Crypto"
`beneficiaries`	`[]`
`max_accepted_payout`	1,000,000.000 SBD
`percent_steem_dollars`	10,000