Mozilla Firefox has revealed that they will be adding to its latest versions of the browser protection measures against cryptocurrency malware.
We’re working on blocking cryptominers! Cool, but wtf even are cryptominers?
Through browsers, they can use your computer's power to make $ (cryptocurrency, specifically). That'll slow you down, drain your battery AND could rack up your electric bill. https://t.co/VqbfJT0EZK
— Firefox ? (@firefox) April 9, 2019
The open source browser posted the news in its official blog yesterday, explaining how it will implement new protection methods against cryptocurrency mining malware, also known as crypto-jacking. The new Firefox Nightly 68 and Beta 67 browser versions will also have additional features to deter fingerprinting hack attacks.
According to Firefox, ‘fingerprinting’ is a practice used by malicious hackers in which they embed invisible scripts onto web pages from all over the internet to track your online activity by using your computer’s configuration. Mozilla states that this practice “violates Firefox’s anti-tracking policy.”
Firefox partnered up with Disconnect to help solve these problems by compiling the domains which are used by fingerprinting and crypto mining scripts that attack users that are vulnerable. The latest versions of the browser give users the option to block the scripts via Mozilla’s Content Blocking suite of protections.
The current browsers are still in beta stages, and Firefox has stated that the browser will be trialed by a small group of testers. Firefox intends on making the protection features a default setting in future browser versions.