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Salon Asks Ad-Blocking Users to Mine Cryptocurrency

posted by janrinok on Wednesday February 14 2018, @02:33PM   Printer-friendly
from the got-to-pay-for-those-adverts-somehow dept.

takyon writes:

The news outlet Salon is allowing Adblock-using visitors to opt-in to using the JavaScript-based Coinhive tool to mine the cryptocurrency Monero:

Other sites have used cryptocurrency mining in lieu of (or in addition to) advertising. Sometimes, it's done surreptitiously without users' consent — The Pirate Bay admitted to secretly adding Coinhive integration last year, and hackers have planted mining malware on other sites. In this case, it's an opt-in program; a spokesperson tells FT that testing started on Monday.

Salon has an FAQ explaining this move.

Also at Ars Technica.

Related: Showtime Streaming Service Included JavaScript to Mine Cryptocurrency Using Web Browsers
PolitiFact Hacked to Mine Cryptocurrency Using Visitors' Web Browsers
Wi-Fi at Starbucks Buenos Aires Has Computers Mine Crypto-Currency
Bitcoin Hype Pushes Hackers to Lesser-Known Cryptocurrencies
Thousands of Websites Hijacked by Hidden Crypto-Mining Code After Popular Plugin Pwned

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @04:06PM (5 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @04:06PM (#637630)

    I'm also ok with this idea, though I wish there was was something more cost-effective than JS to do this with.
    And if we could get computers doing some actual *useful* work ala Folding@home, it would be a great way to destroy 90% of the current ad industry.

    Though the need for blocking such scripts will become necessary almost immediately; at the moment there's no reason for websites to be honest about highjacking your cpu/gpu

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @04:09PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @04:09PM (#637632)

    They could resort to activeX or not-activeX (asm.JS) or the new DRM components shilled into the HTML standard.

  • (Score: 3, Funny) by takyon on Wednesday February 14 2018, @04:09PM (3 children)

    by takyon (881) <takyonNO@SPAMsoylentnews.org> on Wednesday February 14 2018, @04:09PM (#637633) Journal

    How about a Salon app that mines cryptocoins while you read?

    For mobile users, it could use your front-facing camera to track your eyeballs.

    --
    [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]

    • (Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @04:52PM (2 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @04:52PM (#637665)

      I'd prefer it if it activated an anal dildo so I could get that authentic fucked-in-the-ass experience.

      • (Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @10:44PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 14 2018, @10:44PM (#637925)

        MOD PARENT UP

        This.

        Describes the ad revenue situation perfectly

      • (Score: 3, Touché) by chromas on Thursday February 15 2018, @01:51AM

        by chromas (34) Subscriber Badge on Thursday February 15 2018, @01:51AM (#638010) Journal

        You can already get that experience just by reading Salon!