Norton Antivirus Automatically Crypto Mining?

Is Norton Antivirus “sneakily” installing crypto mining software on your computer and skimming a commission? Yes… and no. If you install Norton Antivirus, you will see a file called NCrypt.exe, which is Norton’s crypto mining software. So, yes, installing Norton Antivirus will install Norton’s crypto mining software, but… it will not function in any way without your explicit permission, and only if you have the correct hardware configuration to mine crypto.

I’m not sure why the interweb jumped on this feature just now, as Norton announced this back in June 2021 as a way to mine ETH in a safe mining pool.

Don’t do this, by the way. It’s a terrible deal, as Norton charges a 15% commission on your pool earnings. By comparison, ethermine.org, one of the world’s largest mining pools, charges a 1% fee. I’m not suggesting that anyone start mining ETH; it is only minimally profitable unless you possess the required knowledge and resources.

That said, let’s give NortonLifeLock a pass here. They are not automatically doing anything. In fact, if you want to understand a bit about Proof of Work (PoW) ETH mining, they’ve created a safe, interesting science project. Even so, don’t do it.

(Note: If you’re worried about Norton turning your machine into a crypto miner without your permission, which they can’t and won’t do, turn off Norton’s anti-tamper feature and delete NCrypt.exe. It’s in the Norton Antivirus program directory.)

Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.

About Shelly Palmer

Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.

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