Google Chrome Web Store Bans Cryptocurrency Mining Extensions
- Reportedly, around 90 percent of extensions did not comply with the terms and conditions.
The Google Chrome Web Store has outlawed cryptocurrency mining extensions on the platform. They can no longer be uploaded, and extisting extensions will be delisted in due course.
The decision is explained by James Wagner, Extensions Platform Product Manager, in a blog post entitled "Protecting users from extension Cryptojacking Cryptojacking Cryptojacking is defined as the unauthorized use of an individual’s computer to mine cryptocurrency. Hackers accomplish this feat by through several means.This includes obtaining access via malicious links in an email that loads crypto mining code on the computer, or by infecting a website or online ad with JavaScript code that auto-executes once loaded in the victim’s browser.Consequently, this crypto mining code is able to work out of sight of unsuspecting victims, often without notice. The on Cryptojacking is defined as the unauthorized use of an individual’s computer to mine cryptocurrency. Hackers accomplish this feat by through several means.This includes obtaining access via malicious links in an email that loads crypto mining code on the computer, or by infecting a website or online ad with JavaScript code that auto-executes once loaded in the victim’s browser.Consequently, this crypto mining code is able to work out of sight of unsuspecting victims, often without notice. The on Read this Term".
Wagner says that the platform has noted a marked increase in the number of extensions that have hidden cryptocurrency mining scripts in their code. These mine in the background, unbeknownst to the user. The word 'cryptojacking' refers to this activity.
The mining scripts are heavy on the computer, seriously affecting performance and power consuption:
Source: Chrome Web Store
The blog explains that cryptocurrency mining extensions had been allowed as long as mining was their sole purpose and they advertised themselves accurately. However this didn't happen very often: "Unfortunately, approximately 90% of all extensions with mining scripts that developers have attempted to upload to Chrome Web Store have failed to comply with these policies, and have been either rejected or removed from the store."
The decision to bar the extensions was effective from yesterday, and existing extensions will be removed by late June. Chrome Web Store will still allow extensions with "Blockchain Blockchain Blockchain comprises a digital network of blocks with a comprehensive ledger of transactions made in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or other altcoins.One of the signature features of blockchain is that it is maintained across more than one computer. The ledger can be public or private (permissioned.) In this sense, blockchain is immune to the manipulation of data making it not only open but verifiable. Because a blockchain is stored across a network of computers, it is very difficult to tampe Blockchain comprises a digital network of blocks with a comprehensive ledger of transactions made in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or other altcoins.One of the signature features of blockchain is that it is maintained across more than one computer. The ledger can be public or private (permissioned.) In this sense, blockchain is immune to the manipulation of data making it not only open but verifiable. Because a blockchain is stored across a network of computers, it is very difficult to tampe Read this Term-related purposes other than mining".
Cryptojacking is a growing problem worldwide. In December 2017 it was discovered that some popular streaming websites were making thousands of dollars by surreptitiously mining through their users' computers, and in February of this year thousands of websites in the US, UK, and Australia were infected by cryptojacking malware. These included government websites.
Google, to which Chrome belongs, recently banned all cryptocurrency advertising on its platform. In response, cryptocurrency advocacy organisations from a number of countries have begun the process of raising money to sue the media giant.
The Google Chrome Web Store has outlawed cryptocurrency mining extensions on the platform. They can no longer be uploaded, and extisting extensions will be delisted in due course.
The decision is explained by James Wagner, Extensions Platform Product Manager, in a blog post entitled "Protecting users from extension Cryptojacking Cryptojacking Cryptojacking is defined as the unauthorized use of an individual’s computer to mine cryptocurrency. Hackers accomplish this feat by through several means.This includes obtaining access via malicious links in an email that loads crypto mining code on the computer, or by infecting a website or online ad with JavaScript code that auto-executes once loaded in the victim’s browser.Consequently, this crypto mining code is able to work out of sight of unsuspecting victims, often without notice. The on Cryptojacking is defined as the unauthorized use of an individual’s computer to mine cryptocurrency. Hackers accomplish this feat by through several means.This includes obtaining access via malicious links in an email that loads crypto mining code on the computer, or by infecting a website or online ad with JavaScript code that auto-executes once loaded in the victim’s browser.Consequently, this crypto mining code is able to work out of sight of unsuspecting victims, often without notice. The on Read this Term".
Wagner says that the platform has noted a marked increase in the number of extensions that have hidden cryptocurrency mining scripts in their code. These mine in the background, unbeknownst to the user. The word 'cryptojacking' refers to this activity.
The mining scripts are heavy on the computer, seriously affecting performance and power consuption:
Source: Chrome Web Store
The blog explains that cryptocurrency mining extensions had been allowed as long as mining was their sole purpose and they advertised themselves accurately. However this didn't happen very often: "Unfortunately, approximately 90% of all extensions with mining scripts that developers have attempted to upload to Chrome Web Store have failed to comply with these policies, and have been either rejected or removed from the store."
The decision to bar the extensions was effective from yesterday, and existing extensions will be removed by late June. Chrome Web Store will still allow extensions with "Blockchain Blockchain Blockchain comprises a digital network of blocks with a comprehensive ledger of transactions made in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or other altcoins.One of the signature features of blockchain is that it is maintained across more than one computer. The ledger can be public or private (permissioned.) In this sense, blockchain is immune to the manipulation of data making it not only open but verifiable. Because a blockchain is stored across a network of computers, it is very difficult to tampe Blockchain comprises a digital network of blocks with a comprehensive ledger of transactions made in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin or other altcoins.One of the signature features of blockchain is that it is maintained across more than one computer. The ledger can be public or private (permissioned.) In this sense, blockchain is immune to the manipulation of data making it not only open but verifiable. Because a blockchain is stored across a network of computers, it is very difficult to tampe Read this Term-related purposes other than mining".
Cryptojacking is a growing problem worldwide. In December 2017 it was discovered that some popular streaming websites were making thousands of dollars by surreptitiously mining through their users' computers, and in February of this year thousands of websites in the US, UK, and Australia were infected by cryptojacking malware. These included government websites.
Google, to which Chrome belongs, recently banned all cryptocurrency advertising on its platform. In response, cryptocurrency advocacy organisations from a number of countries have begun the process of raising money to sue the media giant.