Pirate Bay, Showtime caught forcing visitors to mine cryptocurrency for them

[Mirimir]

On 09/27/2017 10:09 PM, Cecilia Tanaka wrote:
> Pirate Bay, Showtime caught forcing visitors to mine cryptocurrency for them
> https://www.rt.com/news/404820-piratebay-showtime-cryptocurrency-mining/
> 
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> Strange, but sharing just for curiosity...
> 
> c.

I get that some are promoting CPU-based cryptocurrency mining as an
alternative funding source for websites. Ideally, this would replace
tracking and advertising, and not just add to it.

>From a privacy perspective, CPU load is clearly better than tracking.
>From a usability perspective, sluggishness from CPU load is arguably
better than distraction from ads. Plus network load, especially for
low-bandwidth users. And by the way, these are Javascript, not malware
drops, so mining ends when you leave the website.

Many have proposed micropayments as an alternative funding source for
websites. This proposal is similar. It's just that you're mining the
payment while you browse. Rather than buying some token, perhaps a
cryptocurrency, and then paying with it. It's a lot simpler, and
requires no user setup.

It'd also be better from an equity perspective, I think. Even if
micropayments for website use were low, they'd be a greater burden on
people with less money. But everyone browsing a website has the
requisite device. However, devices with weaker CPUs would need to work
harder, and requisite mining might take longer, so there is some inequity.

Anyway, an interesting development.


> ----------
> "Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your
> curiosity.  It's your place in the world; it's your life.  Go on and do all
> you can with it, and make it the life you want to live."  -  Mae Jemison
>