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This was already discussed on HN 7 months ago [0]. I'll repeat what I said about it last time: It's a mistake to focus on Norton in this context. The "correct"

This was already discussed on HN 7 months ago [0]. I'll repeat what I said about it last time: It's a mistake to focus on Norton in this context. The "correct" way of reading of this headline should be something like "reputable company puts an Ethereum wallet and mining software in the hands of millions of users". Now imagine if tomorrow Microsoft decided to add a crypto wallet and mining tools to Windows, or Google to Chrome. [0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27379147 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27379147

billpg 5y ago
I'd be "No thank you Microsoft/Google/etc. Also, what do I need to do to make it sure it never switches on next time there's an update."
- ohazi 5y ago
  The next update removes your ability to turn it off. The only correct response is "Fuck you Microsoft/Google/etc. You're expunged and I'll never trust you again."
  - bitwize 5y ago
    The next PC/device you buy contains a security chip that prevents you from expunging Microsoft/Google. After that it's, your bank doesn't allow you to log on except with an approved device with the security chip. Then it's, your government imposes misdemeanor charges for not checking in on your COVID quarantine app (which runs only on security-chipped phones). Due to COVID restrictions, your arraignment hearing will be held on Zoom, which in its latest update, only runs on security-chipped hardware. None of this will seem especially draconian in today's "green bubbles = breakup" society.
davesque 5y ago
Honestly, I feel like the reaction would be similar.
NelsonMinar 5y ago
Well, formerly reputable company.
- bee_rider 5y ago
  To some generous definition of reputable.
petee 5y ago
But for a fee. You paid for software that is letting you mine to benefit Norton, because most people's computers are not going to break even on electic cost. If it were all that altruistic then they shouldn't need to collect 15%, give them the miner they could download for free.
qeternity 5y ago
> Now imagine if tomorrow Microsoft decided to add a crypto wallet and mining tools to Windows, or Google to Chrome. People keep saying this as if crypto isn't already mainstream. Exchanges have hundreds of millions of customers. A significant portion of the world has traded crypto. And 99.99% aren't doing anything else with it but speculate. It's not as if magically bundling a wallet on millions of machines will suddenly cause a bunch of usecases to materialize.
- jdavis703 5y ago
  What exchange has 100 million users? Coinbase has 6 million users. Even the largest banks barely crack that count. For example, Bank of America only has 46 million customers.
  - qeternity 5y ago
    What are you talking about? Coinbase’s about page lists “73+ million verified users”. I never said that any single exchange has over hundred million, but rather exchanges combined have hundreds of millions.
- mlinksva 5y ago
  Brave is already doing the wallet part, analogous to "Google to Chrome". I wonder what proportion of users are actually using the wallet.
- petee 5y ago
  Last stats i just saw pegged the world wide number around 100 million. Lets be generous and say 500 million, versus 7.9 billion world pop puts you at a generous 6%, not exactly mainstream. (pdf) https://assets.ctfassets.net/hfgyig42jimx/5u8QqK4lqjEgL506mOx4m3/d44d8e204aecfc75a839e2a9d505f5d1/Crypto.com_Data_Report_-_On-chain_Market_Sizing.pdf https://assets.ctfassets.net/hfgyig42jimx/5u8QqK4lqjEgL506mO... https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/crypto-users-pass-100-million-boomers-gen-x-bitcoin-btc-ethereum-2021-2 https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/crypto-u...
  - 5y ago
pinewurst 5y ago
Effectively they already have, except it's data mining that accrues only to them and continues to grow.
ryanisnan 5y ago
It's bold to say that this is the "correct" way of interpreting this information. I for one, think it's infuriating. Part of being the best at anything, means doing one thing, and doing it really well. With respect to cybersecurity software, to compromise this ideal at all is highly questionable. To do it to mine cryptocurrency is just ludicrous.

billpg 5y ago

I'd be "No thank you Microsoft/Google/etc. Also, what do I need to do to make it sure it never switches on next time there's an update."

ohazi 5y ago
The next update removes your ability to turn it off. The only correct response is "Fuck you Microsoft/Google/etc. You're expunged and I'll never trust you again."
- bitwize 5y ago
  The next PC/device you buy contains a security chip that prevents you from expunging Microsoft/Google. After that it's, your bank doesn't allow you to log on except with an approved device with the security chip. Then it's, your government imposes misdemeanor charges for not checking in on your COVID quarantine app (which runs only on security-chipped phones). Due to COVID restrictions, your arraignment hearing will be held on Zoom, which in its latest update, only runs on security-chipped hardware. None of this will seem especially draconian in today's "green bubbles = breakup" society.

davesque 5y ago

Honestly, I feel like the reaction would be similar.

NelsonMinar 5y ago

Well, formerly reputable company.

bee_rider 5y ago
To some generous definition of reputable.

petee 5y ago

But for a fee. You paid for software that is letting you mine to benefit Norton, because most people's computers are not going to break even on electic cost. If it were all that altruistic then they shouldn't need to collect 15%, give them the miner they could download for free.

qeternity 5y ago

> Now imagine if tomorrow Microsoft decided to add a crypto wallet and mining tools to Windows, or Google to Chrome. People keep saying this as if crypto isn't already mainstream. Exchanges have hundreds of millions of customers. A significant portion of the world has traded crypto. And 99.99% aren't doing anything else with it but speculate. It's not as if magically bundling a wallet on millions of machines will suddenly cause a bunch of usecases to materialize.

jdavis703 5y ago
What exchange has 100 million users? Coinbase has 6 million users. Even the largest banks barely crack that count. For example, Bank of America only has 46 million customers.
- qeternity 5y ago
  What are you talking about? Coinbase’s about page lists “73+ million verified users”. I never said that any single exchange has over hundred million, but rather exchanges combined have hundreds of millions.
mlinksva 5y ago
Brave is already doing the wallet part, analogous to "Google to Chrome". I wonder what proportion of users are actually using the wallet.
petee 5y ago
Last stats i just saw pegged the world wide number around 100 million. Lets be generous and say 500 million, versus 7.9 billion world pop puts you at a generous 6%, not exactly mainstream. (pdf) https://assets.ctfassets.net/hfgyig42jimx/5u8QqK4lqjEgL506mOx4m3/d44d8e204aecfc75a839e2a9d505f5d1/Crypto.com_Data_Report_-_On-chain_Market_Sizing.pdf https://assets.ctfassets.net/hfgyig42jimx/5u8QqK4lqjEgL506mO... https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/crypto-users-pass-100-million-boomers-gen-x-bitcoin-btc-ethereum-2021-2 https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/crypto-u...
- 5y ago

pinewurst 5y ago

Effectively they already have, except it's data mining that accrues only to them and continues to grow.

ryanisnan 5y ago

It's bold to say that this is the "correct" way of interpreting this information. I for one, think it's infuriating. Part of being the best at anything, means doing one thing, and doing it really well. With respect to cybersecurity software, to compromise this ideal at all is highly questionable. To do it to mine cryptocurrency is just ludicrous.