A group of Norton customers can now mine Ethereum thanks to a new service — Norton Crypto
In a recent announcement, NortonLifeLock revealed plans to let users mine cryptocurrency through its platform. The initial rollout will target selected early adopters of the Norton 360 suite. The company says it intends to expand the service over the coming months so that all of its 13 million customers can access it.
This launch challenges the belief that only large server farms can mine cryptocurrencies. While Norton has not specified timelines for adding other coins, the company indicated it may support the major cryptocurrencies in the future.
Norton’s new product enables users to mine crypto from their own PCs with substantially lower risk. Typically, users must disable antivirus software before mining, exposing their systems to ransomware and other digital threats. Vincent Pilette, CEO of NortonLifeLock, told CNN Business that running unprotected mining code on a machine can make it vulnerable to attacks.
Norton Crypto promises improved security protocols designed to keep users protected. As part of the solution, Norton will launch a cloud-based wallet. This digital wallet will play a central role in safeguarding users’ assets and reduce the risk of losing funds—an issue for many users who currently store their holdings on local hard drives.
Gagan Singh, Norton’s product manager, expressed enthusiasm about the service, noting that NortonLifeLock is among the first cybersecurity companies to enable customers to use idle PC time to generate income. Singh added that the new system is intended to streamline the mining process. The company aims to address the technical complexity that often deters potential miners, making it easier for users to mine more cryptocurrency.
Ethereum is one of the top cryptocurrencies globally and ranks just behind Bitcoin by market share. NortonLifeLock may add other reputable cryptocurrencies in the future, which would be sensible given that Ethereum’s hash rate has become less appealing for solo miners seeking profit. Norton Crypto also seeks to capitalize on the global semiconductor shortage by offering PC-based mining tools, allowing users to mine without investing in costly specialized hardware.