Protecting yourself from In-Browser Miners

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  1. Posts : 27,157
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
       #1

    Protecting yourself from In-Browser Miners


    Miners are becoming an epidemic and in-browsing mining is only going to get worse. Therefore, it is important that all users protect themselves by installing antivirus software that detects when a browser connects to known mining services such as CoinHive.

    Unfortunately, new services keep popping up and it has become a game of whack-a-mole for the security industry. Therefore, your installed software may not detect the URL or scripts associated with a new in-browser miner.

    To add further protection, you can use an adblocker with Chrome, which will block in-browser mining scripts. For those looking for a more granular approach, you can use the CoinBlockerLists site to download lists of IP addresses and domains affiliated with in-browser mining.
    Read the whole article here: Using the Chrome Task Manager to Find In-Browser Miners


    Tip   Tip
    Protecting yourself from In-Browser Miners-coinbl_logo.png

    The list you want to select at CoinBlockerLists site is:
    Hosts| This list contains all browser mining domains - A hostslist to prevent browser mining only
    Link: https://zerodot1.gitlab.io/CoinBlock.../hosts_browser


    information   Information
    To add to hosts file you need to:


    1. First open Notepad as an administrator.
    2. Then select File, select open, and go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc (or copy & paste this in the address bar).
    3. At the bottom of Notepad change TextFiles(.txt) to All Files.
    4. Then select Hosts file(not hosts calendar).
    5. Then Click the Open button.
    6. On the page with the Hosts file select all and copy & Paste it into your Hosts file at the bottom.
    7. Select File & Save.
    8. Close Notepad, no restart necessary, it starts protecting you and your browser right away.

    Protecting yourself from In-Browser Miners-image-001.png

    Your Hosts file should look something like this(it is much longer of course):
    Protecting yourself from In-Browser Miners-image-002.png


    You can also download this shortcut I created that runs as admin to quickly open and edit your hosts file:
    Edit hosts file.zip
    Just download, right click, open properties, select unblock, unzip it, place it where you want, and click it.

    Last edited by Cliff S; 18 Jun 2018 at 08:38.
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  2. Posts : 30,502
    Windows 10 (Pro and Insider Pro)
       #2

    Thanks for pointing this out Cliff S. My wife was victim of one coin miner. And it wasn't restricted on the site viewing, but started with browser.


    Special extensions that prevents coin mining are available for almost all of the browsers (Chrome, FF) out there. Also usual blocking extensions can be updated with coin mining lists like you mentioned for hosts file.

    This is part of the list, if you go to FF extensions site and type coin in search:
    Search results

    No Coin

    Stop coin miners on the web!
    Rated 4.4 out of 5
    Keraf
    70,110 users
    NoMiner - Block Coin Miners

    Easily stop coin miners from using your computer resources.
    Rated 3.8 out of 5
    Emmy
    26,366 users
    CoinBlock

    With the rising popularity of coinminers in js form, this extension attempts to block those hosted on coin-hive, and cryptoloot. A multiple entry block list is planned.
    Rated 3.9 out of 5
    Bechsen
    4,381 users
    Coin Mining Blocker

    Block JavaScript coin mining scripts at network level
    No ratings
    RayLo
    513 users
    BitCoin Generator

    BitCoin Generator is a Bitcoin generating tool , developed by CrazzyNet.Com or CrazzyNet LLC . Generate free mBTC without hard work .
    No ratings
    CrazzyNet LLC
    81 users
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  3. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #3

    Thanks for sharing, Cliff. Important read.
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  4. Posts : 27,157
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I have always prefered to use the hosts file, as addons also track you(they need to, so they can function properly).

    But I can also surgically select what will be blocked and what not(just malware, Facebook, and now coinhive.
    Last edited by Cliff S; 26 Mar 2018 at 21:44.
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  5. Posts : 27,157
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
    Thread Starter
       #5

    AndreTen said:
    Thanks for pointing this out Cliff S. My wife was victim of one coin miner. And it wasn't restricted on the site viewing, but started with browser.


    Special extensions that prevents coin mining are available for almost all of the browsers (Chrome, FF) out there. Also usual blocking extensions can be updated with coin mining lists like you mentioned for hosts file.

    This is part of the list, if you go to FF extensions site and type coin in search:
    Kari said:
    Thanks for sharing, Cliff. Important read.
    You are both welcome.
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  6. Posts : 27,157
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I just added a shortcut, to download, in information block above, to quickly open hosts in notepad as admin, to edit the hosts file:)
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  7. Posts : 27,157
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Further information:
    Malware can redirect Web addresses on your computer by altering your hosts file. This is referred to as the Host File Hijack.
    To prevent Host file hijacks, you may navigate to it, right-click on it, select Properties and make it a Read-only file. This will lock down your Hosts file and prevent anyone or any malware from writing to it.
    http://www.thewindowsclub.com/hosts-file-in-windows

    Protecting yourself from In-Browser Miners-image-003.png
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  8. Posts : 6,741
    22H2 64 Bit Pro
       #8

    Protecting yourself from In-Browser Miners-reports.jpg
    Added to HOSTS. However still get the problem in the screenshot. AV blocks the script but additionally if using Firefox Quantum) with NoScript Security Suite the script is also blocked.
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  9. Posts : 27,157
    Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro N, Win10 Home, Windows 8.1 Pro, Ubuntu
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Callender said:
    Protecting yourself from In-Browser Miners-reports.jpg
    Added to HOSTS. However still get the problem in the screenshot. AV blocks the script but additionally if using Firefox Quantum) with NoScript Security Suite the script is also blocked.
    The script is being blocked from the add on, but not from hosts file.

    To understand what the hosts file is/does(very simplified): The Hosts File and what it can do for you
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  10. Posts : 5,439
    Windows 11 Home
       #10

    Poper Blocker is very effective too, it blocks hidden popups/overlays used by coinminers.
      My Computer


 

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