NortonLifeLock to End Antivirus Crypto-Mining Due to Ethereum Merge

NortonLifeLock is shutting down a cryptocurrency miner that runs on its antivirus product. 

The firm is citing Ethereum’s swap to a “Proof-of-Stake” mannequin, which can part out GPU-based mining for the cryptocurrency. The coming transition, also called the Merge, is slated to happen as quickly as Thursday, Sept. 15. 

“As a results of the upcoming Ethereum Merge(Opens in a new window) altering how Ether will be mined, GPU mining will now not be potential, which is why Norton/Avira Crypto mining can be disabled on our platform on September 14 at 9 am EST,” an organization spokesperson instructed PCMag. 

The spokesperson added: “Customers who mined with us can proceed to entry any stability they’ve earned mining with Norton/Avira Crypto by way of their Wallet, and so they can withdraw it to their Coinbase account at any time. While mining will now not be potential, the Wallet will proceed to be supported.”

The firm launched the mining operate for its Norton360 product a yr in the past to assist its prospects capitalize on the then-soaring cryptocurrency market. NortonLifeLock additionally claimed the miner served a safety function, pointing to what number of customers had been downloading unvetted and doubtlessly malicious crypto-mining applications to their PCs.

The mining operate tapped right into a PC’s discrete graphics to generate the Ethereum. In return, NortonLifeLock charged a payment for the mining. The firm additionally introduced the identical mining operate to Avira’s personal antivirus instruments, which NortonLifeLock acquired in 2020. 

However, the choice to provide the miner over the antivirus applications acquired some backlash from customers and safety consultants over considerations the corporate was saddling customers with non-removable bloatware. In its protection, NortonLifeLock stated the mining software was opt-in solely. 

The firm is now disabling the miner, however the shutdown could also be short-term. An organization spokesperson stated NortonLifeLock is “trying into” increasing mining to one other cryptocurrency. 

“We are all the time evaluating new expertise and innovation. We are listening to our prospects about their pursuits and desires for future choices,” the spokesperson added.