As a way to protect customers from dangerous mining software, NortonLifelock has incorporated the option to mine Ethereum cryptocurrency right within its Norton 360 antivirus software.
This new mining tool is known as Norton Crypto, and it will be available to Norton 360 users who are part of Norton’s early adopter program.
When Norton Crypto is turned on, the software will mine Ethereum using the device’s graphics card (GPU), which will then be transmitted to a Norton wallet in the cloud.
‘Mining’ is the process of obtaining cryptocurrencies through the use of a computer.
Crypto mining is the process of obtaining cryptocurrency through the use of computers to solve cryptographic equations.
This procedure entails “validating” data blocks and updating transaction records in real-time on the blockchain, a public ‘ledger’.
It’s unclear whether each Norton Crypto device mines separately or as part of a pool of users for a better chance of collecting Ethereum rewards.
Because mining Ethereum by yourself is extremely tough, Norton users will most likely be pooled together to increase their chances of mining a block.
If Norton runs a pool for this new functionality, they may charge a modest fee on everything Ethereum mined, as is customary among pool owners, turning this new option into a revenue stream for the company.
Due to the fact that cryptocurrency miners and related applications are frequently identified by antivirus software, Norton claims that this function allows users to mine Ethereum while maintaining their security.
“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 we are expanding our Cyber Safety platform to protect our customers’ ever-evolving digital lives”.
Users of Norton 360 who utilize this functionality to mine Ethereum, on the other hand, may be in for a big surprise during tax season.
The IRS considers mined cryptocurrency to be a taxable event in the United States, and it must be reported on tax returns as income.
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