Google is taking a stand on illegal crypto-mining by banning Chrome browser extensions that support crypto-jacking.
Published on InfoSecurity | By Phi Muncaster
Extension platform product manager, James Wagner, claimed that there has been a rise in malicious extensions over the past few months — severely impacting users’ performance.
“Until now, Chrome Web Store policy has permitted cryptocurrency mining in extensions as long as it is the extension’s single purpose, and the user is adequately informed about the mining behavior. 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,” he explained.
“Starting today, Chrome Web Store will no longer accept extensions that mine cryptocurrency. Existing extensions that mine cryptocurrency will be delisted from the Chrome Web Store in late June. Extensions with blockchain-related purposes other than mining will continue to be permitted in the Web Store.”
There has been a significant spike in crypto-jacking in recent months, as cyber-criminals eschew ransomware in favor of nominally easier ways to make money.
Read entire article Google Bans Crypto-Mining Extensions | InfoSecurity