Norton 360 Antivirus Software Adds Ethereum Mining Feature

[Tsing]

Image: NortonLifeLock



Cybersecurity software and services company NortonLifeLock (formerly Symantec) has announced that it is adding a novel feature to its suite of antivirus, VPN, and Dark Web monitoring technologies, Norton 360. Starting today, select Norton 360 customers will be able to check out a new feature dubbed Norton Crypto, which allows users to mine Ethereum and track/transfer their earnings to a Norton Crypto Wallet. Not surprisingly, Norton stressed in its press release that its software enables a secure and reliable way for consumers to dabble into the world of cryptocurrency.









“As the crypto economy continues to become a more important part of our customers’ lives, we want to empower them to mine cryptocurrency with Norton, a brand they trust,” said Vincent Pilette, CEO of NortonLifeLock. “Norton Crypto is yet another innovative example of how...

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[ThreeDee]

From what I remember of how Norton's software ran from years gone by ... I think they've been doing this for awhile now ..

 

[Grimlakin]

There is humor here... but also it exposes an opportunity.

If a large company, I don't care who, Microsoft, Apple, Intel, Amazon, McAfee, Norton, whatever...

If a large company came along and said. "We will provide a stand alone client for mining CryptoCurrency. This client will be streamlined with one signup page where you can log multiple systems into it. This will provide a secure repository that we as a company will insure against loss of Cryptocurrency. (Not change in value of said currency.). You will have 1 simple interface to manage your cryptocurrency, with options built in that will let you sell or trade currency based on pre defined settings. And we will charge, 1.99 USD per month to cover our costs on providing this service to you.

As a subscriber you will also have access to....

Heck if Amazon offered that as part of Prime I would tinker with it.

The barrier to entry to Cryptocurrency mining is making it a simple and trustworthy solution for people to try.

Samsung is trying REAL HARD to let me have my phone mine cryptocurrency while I sleep and it charges. I've said no because I want my phone to last and having it run hard all **** night seems like a fast train to pain.

 

[Brian_B]

I could remotely see offering a wallet from a security company. Those things @Grimlakin says are true about the wallet - particularly if they insure against theft / loss, as I don't know anyone doing that now.

Mining though - seriously? You don't need to mine to have a wallet. And for 99.5% of the folks out there, if you want to get into crypto - just go buy some. You don't need to mine to get Crypto, and in my opinion unless you are setting up a decent scaled operation dedicated to the task, you shouldn't mine to get crypto.

I can't wait to see Grandma try this out because it came with her latest Dell auto-enrolled Norton subscription, and wondering why her computer is so slow all of the time. Then once she figures it out, she's gonna be in line at Microcenter trying to buy GPUs in bulk... while complaining that the power company is now cheating her on her fixed income.

 

[Grimlakin]

I could remotely see offering a wallet from a security company.

Mining though - seriously?

I can't wait to see Grandma try this out because it came with her latest Dell auto-enrolled Norton subscription, and wondering why her computer is so slow all of the time. Then once she figures it out, she's gonna be in line at Microcenter trying to buy GPUs in bulk...

You think that's bad...

Wait until someone releases a client for Xbox and Playstations to do mining with a click linked to their microsoft account. Gold or whatever they call it now subscribers only of course.

"Honey... our power bill went up by 300 dollars... any idea why?"
"I'm not sure dear, but these women dressed like ladies of the night keep coming to visit timmy."

 

[Brian_B]

You think that's bad...

Wait until someone releases a client for Xbox and Playstations to do mining with a click linked to their microsoft account. Gold or whatever they call it now subscribers only of course.

"Honey... our power bill went up by 300 dollars... any idea why?"
"I'm not sure dear, but these women dressed like ladies of the night keep coming to visit timmy."

I can recall when Sony allowed us to Folding@Home on a PS3. That was a task I could get behind, and I dedicated quite a bit to folding (and SETI@Home) back in the day -- at least until my California electricity bill told me I should stop.

I hate to see that the dream of distributed computing has went from a lot of volunteer projects with great causes to ... WTF why can't I buy a GPU. But I guess that was inevitably the natural evolution - going to something for profit. I can't wait for the inevitable counter-reaction (as humans, we tend to oscillate between extremes and are never able to find the happy middle ground on anything).

So yeah, that scenario is entirely possible.

 

[Brian_B]

I should probably clarify somewhat

Upon some reflection: I don't hate mining, or crypto. What really bothers me about it is the seemingly infinite return on it, which cannot be sustainable. The thing that keeps me from personally getting in: the fact that it's backed by ... nothing but faith. You can claim it's similar to investing in the Stock Market - and in a lot of ways, it is. A lot of the value in the Stock Market is in faith. But in the end - the stocks being traded are backed by something: a corporation with assets, an established government bond, a commodity, etc. So there is some inherent and tangible worth that can backstop any slide and serve as a foundation for any needed recovery. Not to mention there are a slew of laws and regulations that have been developed over the years to protect people and investments - crypto is still the Wild West, complete with bandits.

I understand people are getting while the getting is good. But when it falls, it's going to fall hard, and a lot of people are going to get burned. And per human nature, everyone assumes that it isn't going to be them left holding the bag.

And normally, i wouldn't care what people do with their time and money, even if I think it's stupid. But it's affecting my hobby - which is entirely selfish and a first world problem, admittedly. So I gripe, but it isn't affecting my ability to put food on the table, but I fear for those who get left holding the bag that it may affect theirs.

 

[Burticus]

Well, it's Norton... so no f*cking way. I wouldn't trust this further than I could virtually throw it.