Jan 11, 2022 11:30:00

A virtual currency mining function was also added to the free antivirus software 'Avira Free Antivirus'

Anti-virus software '

Norton 360 it is difficult to remove in the mining function to force the installation of a virtual currency, which is mounted in', and 15% of the virtual currency that was mined by being taken as a commission collect the criticism in, known as a free anti-virus software It turned out that the virtual currency mining function was also added to ' Avira Free Antivirus'.

500M Avira Antivirus Users Introduced to Cryptomining – Krebs on Security
https://krebsonsecurity.com/2022/01/500m-avira-antivirus-users-introduced-to-cryptomining/

'Avira Free Antivirus' is a free antivirus software developed by the German company Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG, which was founded in 2006, and has 500 million users worldwide.

According to the security news site Krebson Security, a virtual currency mining function named 'Avira Crypto' has been added to this 'Avira' as well.

The function is to mine Ethereum using the idle time of the PC, and the user needs to turn on the function to mine.

When it comes to the virtual currency mining function for anti-virus software, the new function 'Norton Crypto' of 'Norton 360' is automatically installed and is difficult to remove.

Voices of criticism about the automatic installation of virtual currency mining function in 'Norton 360' --GIGAZINE

by Tony Webster

Avira Operations GmbH & Co. KG, founder Tjark Auerbach, sold almost all of its shares to Bahrain's investment company Investcorp Group in 2020. In addition, it was part of NortonLifeLock in February 2021.

According to Krebson Security, it is not clear if Avira Crypto contains the same code as Norton Crypto, but other antivirus software has determined Avira Crypto to be 'potentially dangerous, including cryptocurrency miners' and its target component is Norton Crypto. It is said that it is common with.

In addition, NortonLifeLock acquired Avast, which is also famous for free antivirus software, in August 2021, and it is no wonder that the virtual currency mining function will be added to Avast in the future.