Prevalent Chrome Extension Discovered To Be Mining Cryptocurrency

Well, it has happened. Chrome extensions are cryptojacking. If you are wondering what is cryptojacking, then it’s secretly using your computer's resources to mine cryptocurrency without your permission. 

The extension called Archive Poster had over 105,000 users, helps Tumblr users’ reblog and repost from other blogs, also runs Coinhive, a cryptojacking program that secretly mines the cryptocurrency Monero using your CPU. Google Chrome has taken down this extension from its Chrome web store.

Report of the illegal cryptocurrency mining was first reported by BleepingComputer. The report on Bleeping Computer points out the issue was first highlighted by Troy Mursch, who is a US-based security researcher. He pointed out there is “Coinhive cryptojacking code is hidden in a JavaScript file,” which is loaded from a particular URL.

Cryptojacking software is not as dangerous as common malware — it typically doesn't do damage to your computer or files — it's annoying as it uses your CPU time and potentially slows down your computer considerably. 

Unregulated crypto-currencies have soared in value this past year, making a few millionaires and worrying a few hedge fund managers in the process. But crypto-currencies have also been great news for hackers and unscrupulous investors, who can use them for nefarious tricks.

I think it’s high time to remove this extension if you have it. Goodbye Archive Poster!