A few years ago, the scripts that were executed in the web browser when visiting pages began to become popular, and that began to mine cryptocurrencies (Monero especially) taking advantage of the resources of our processor. Browsers introduced restrictions to avoid that, and those scripts are no longer used. However, now a new front opens with a mining script included in Norton itself.
Norton’s antivirus is one of the safest on the market. In the list we collected yesterday, the company’s antivirus receives a score of 6 out of 6 in all categories (performance, usability and protection). Interestingly, Norton has now included a mining script within Norton 360.
Norton Crypto: Ethereum from the antivirus itself
This script, how could it be otherwise, is optional. The Norton 360 solution includes a multitude of protection elements, such as a VPN or LifeLock, which protects our identity online. Now, Norton Crypto is also included, which will be released later today to users in Norton’s early access program.
When we activate Norton Crypto, what the software does is use the user’s graphics card to mine Ethereum, and whose returns are transferred to a Norton wallet hosted in the cloud. The reason Norton has included this option is to protect users from installing other mining scripts that may be dangerous or modified to mine hacker accounts.
The company does not specify if users mine independently or if they are part of a pool to increase the chances of obtaining the mined coins, although the latter is most likely the option since it is the most common way to mine Ethereum. , as they do in NiceHash or Ethermine . In return, the platforms usually take a small percentage of what users mine, around 1% every hour.
The function will be reaching all users this month
In the event that Norton has created a pool with its users, it is very likely that the company will take a small percentage of the money mined , this being a new way of income for users who seek greater comfort to mine, without having to install scripts and add exceptions in the antivirus, and with a more friendly interface.
Norton has not specified whether the option will be enabled by default, but the logical thing would be that users have to activate the feature manually. However, it opens the door to allowing users to use Norton for free or at a lower price in the future if they decide to lend their computer resources to participate in this system.
If you want to test the feature, you will need to be in Norton’s early access program . The feature will reach all other users in the coming weeks, so there’s no need to sign up for this program if you’re not in a rush.