Firefox may get new anti-cryptojacking features

Posted on Monday, March 26 2018 @ 20:05 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
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Firefox Product Manager Peter Dolanjski recently revealed that Mozilla is exploring new features to block cryptojacking scripts. As cryptocurrencies rose significantly in price last year, more and more sites are running scripts to mine cryptocurrency on a visitor's computer.

At the moment, Firefox already blocks some cryptojacking scripts via the Firefox Tracking Protection, a feature that blocks abuse ad trackers. Two domains are blocked, those of Coinhive and Crypto-Loot, these account for well over 80 percent of the cryptojacking market. However, this feature is only activate by default when you open a private browsing window.

Here's a look at what the more extensive cryptojacking protection may look like:
This "exploring" on the part of Mozilla could mean one of two things. The first would be if Firefox would start throttling JavaScript "workers" executed in background tabs, similar to the method the Chrome team recently took to deal with cryptojackers.

Discussions on this possible feature is already taking place on the Mozilla bug tracker, here.

The other alternative would be if this anti-cryptojacking protection would be part of Firefox's upcoming "ad filter system" that Mozilla plans to add to Firefox this year, to protect users from today's toxic advertising landscape. More details on that, here.
Via: Bleeping Computer


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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