Avira Joins Norton 360 In Adding a Crypto Miner To Its Products (krebsonsecurity.com) 47
Last week, security researcher Brian Krebs reported that Norton 360, one of the most popular antivirus products on the market, has installed a cryptocurrency mining program on its customers' computers. Well, it appears that Avira antivirus, which has built a base of 500 million users worldwide, is doing the same. Krebs on Security reports: Like Norton 360, Avira comes with a cryptominer already installed, but customers have to opt in to using the service that powers it. Avira's FAQ on its cryptomining service is somewhat sparse. For example, it doesn't specify how much NortonLifeLock gets out of the deal (NortonLifeLock keeps 15 percent of any cryptocurrency mined by Norton Crypto). "Avira Crypto allows you to use your computer's idle time to mine the cryptocurrency Ethereum (ETH)," the FAQ explains. "Since cryptomining requires a high level of processing power, it is not suitable for users with an average computer. Even with compatible hardware, mining cryptocurrencies on your own can be less rewarding. Your best option is to join a mining pool that shares their computer power to improve their chance of mining cryptocurrency. The rewards are then distributed evenly to all members in the pool."
truly sad (Score:3)
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But this means Norton and Avira are EXTRA motivated to guard your system from malicious crypto-miner viruses. They don't want anyone muscling in on their territory. /s
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Yes, like gangs are motivated to guard their turf. :-(
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Just like the "government" is protecting anyone from "protection racketeers", because both are essentially the same, but the former is theoretically under public scrutiny and the latter isn't.
That is recognisable when people are protesting the "government", and the "government" sends their own agents among the protesters to aggravate the situation and produce a handle to crack down on the protest.
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Everyone is going crypto. When will /., OSes, etc. do it too? :P
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In case you're unaware, they're the same company. Symantec bought Norton years ago, Broadcom bought Symantec in 2019 and renamed it to NortonLifeLock. NortonLifeLock bought Avira in 2021.
Not quite. Broadcom bought Symantec but they didn't buy Norton or any of the consumer level stuff, they just bought the Symantec enterprise business. The consumer part that Broadcom didn't buy got renamed to NortonLifeLock and is its own company.
Pro Tip (Score:2)
Do not buy or use these dogshit products.
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I realize these products often are also available for non-Windows platforms (Mac and sometimes even Linux) - but do any non-Windows users actually run antivirus on their machines?
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I've seen ClamAV used in Linux environments, mainly for mail scanning but also for host scanning.
In 2022, on Windows, if you are using freeware antivirus or Norton or McAfee then you've victimized yourself.
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>> but do any non-Windows users actually run antivirus
No.
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I realize these products often are also available for non-Windows platforms (Mac and sometimes even Linux) - but do any non-Windows users actually run antivirus on their machines?
Most, probably not. Most that DO have antivirus run something like ClamAV once a week.
So... (Score:2)
...which anti-malware systems don't come pre-installed with malware?
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...which anti-malware systems don't come pre-installed with malware?
Windows Defender - many say it's all you need, since other additional software just create more attack surface for exploitable bugs.
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That's the reverse case. Malware that comes pre-installed with anti-malware.
Linux. (Score:2)
Linux.
What's that flushing sound? (Score:3)
Yes, that's exactly what I want from a security product - I want to pay an annual subscription for a software product already known to be shit due to the reactive and intrusive nature of their malware "protection", but now they've gone full-tilt on sucking up every last spare cycle the CPUs have to offer, in order for them to make extra money off my electric bill and cooling wear & tear? Also, 15%? Nanopool only takes 1% on their ethereum mining pool, and most mining programs also take a low single-digit percent of mining time.
Go.
Fuck.
Yourself.
You.
Greedy.
Shitstains.
These products are now cemented firmly on my "to-don't" list. They were already there, but now I won't even entertain a conversation about them.
It's a virus (Score:3)
Virus on your system: sucks up all available CPU and memory
Norton on your system: sucks up all available CPU and memory, AND costs $59.95 a year
What a bargain!
Wish I had mod points (Score:2)
If I want a lock, why do I need to be mined? (Score:2)
You advertise a service, and then insert an unadvertised leech process.
What nimrods think this fine?
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Antivirus products are another attack surface (Score:2)
Heard again and again from folks in security that additional antivirus software mainly produce yet another attack surface for exploitable bugs, and it seems these bugs are now considered "features" you get the privilege of paying a yearly fee for.
Just enable Windows defender and don't bother with all this malware being passed off as a "protection product".
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One, another, or both? (Score:2)
Would it be more hypocritical, or appropriate for them to add the other's product as a malware product for exactly this?
I can see the defenders already "Oh, it's a MINIMAL performance impact - don't be such a worry-wart. They deserve to make money for their services.." (on your electric bill dime)
The block-chain keeps giving and giving, doesn't it?
Ryan Fenton
There, fixed that for you (Score:1)
Since cryptomining requires a high level of ELECTRICITY, it is A MONEY-LOSER for users with an TYPICAL ELECTRICITY COSTS
There, fixed that for you.
What not to buy for an AV solution. (Score:2)
Norton: CHECK!
Avira: CHECK!
Okay! Who else wants to be labeled as malware?
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I'm sure McAfee isn't far behind...
Antivirus Making Virus? (Score:2)
You gotta pay. (Score:1)
Yay! (Score:2)
Boiling frogs (Score:3)
For me this has been a long running fascination with the de-evolution of "tech" industry especially all things security. As time marches on more and more previously legitimate corporations seem to be adopting the same business practices of bottom feeding malware scammers.
Many software and security / AV products have become straight up malware.
The whole tech industry is collapsing under the weight of insatiable greed and rent seeking. It is as if it has become impossible to create and sell products on the merits anymore. The question is always how can we make sure nothing is left on the table. How can we monetize and control everything. The product itself has become irrelevant and things like respect and integrity mean as much as the randomly generated brands that have completely taken over Amazon.com.
These things tend to build on themselves iteratively. I recall when Mozilla DoH rolled out Mozilla people making these same arguments about centralized browsing history collection. It's "Opt-In", they ask your permission first was the cry of supporters and of Mozilla itself at the time. Of course even that stopped being true long ago and it is no longer opt in. When the publicity dies down they silently and iteratively went for it as much as they can get away with constantly probing and pushing the window of acceptable behavior.
That a security company selling a security product would see fit to abuse trust by installing crypto miners without permission may seem insane but I guarantee you it won't be nearly as insane as the next thing they'll do after all of the public outrage dies down.
NortonLifeLock, Inc. acquired Avira in 2020-2021 (Score:5, Informative)
Hello,
There seems to be the impression that these are completely separate companies doing this. They are not.
In 2020, NortonLifeLock, Inc. acquired [nortonlifelock.com] Avira, the acquisition was completed in 2020. Avira, in turn, was in the process of itself of acquiring [avira.com] BullGuard, which completed in 2021.
NortonLifeLock, Inc. also acquired [nortonlifelock.com] Avast in 2021, which itself acquired [avast.com] AVG in 2016.
This means that NortonLifeLock, Inc owns the Avast, AVG, Avira and BullGuard brands in addition to its own Norton brand.
Whether or not NortonLifeLock implements cryptomining in their other brands is anyone's guess, but if it is successful in bringing in additional revenue for shareholders, that may be a foregone conclusion.
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky
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Enough said, tune to find a new anti virus
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It's a strange world we live in where the least offensive (I dare not used the word best) antivirus solution is the one created by Microsoft...
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Hello,
There seems to be the impression that these are completely separate companies doing this. They are not.
In 2020, NortonLifeLock, Inc. acquired [nortonlifelock.com] Avira, the acquisition was completed in 2020. Avira, in turn, was in the process of itself of acquiring [avira.com] BullGuard, which completed in 2021.
NortonLifeLock, Inc. also acquired [nortonlifelock.com] Avast in 2021, which itself acquired [avast.com] AVG in 2016.
This means that NortonLifeLock, Inc owns the Avast, AVG, Avira and BullGuard brands in addition to its own Norton brand.
Whether or not NortonLifeLock implements cryptomining in their other brands is anyone's guess, but if it is successful in bringing in additional revenue for shareholders, that may be a foregone conclusion.
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky
I dropped AVG some years ago for becoming nagware (constant popup ads), went to Avast and dropped them shortly after for the same reason. I am pretty much using Immunet (clam AV windows client made by Cisco) these days as Windows Defender gets bypassed and disabled by cryptominers too easily.
Have some Nietzsche (Score:2)
"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."
Customers customers (Score:2)
They must have been thinking "Idiot customers are loading malware to mine crypto.... can we not give them something legitimate and safe..." and this is the only reasonable argument I am able to come up with!!
Electricity costs? (Score:2)
I assume that Norton or Avira determine the cost of the electricity used and perform testing to calculate the efficiency and performance of the specific computer used in their mining and present the information to the user so that they can make an informed decision on whether to turn mining on or not.
Or am I just naive?