Re:I heat my home by mining crypto currencies
by Sohcahtoa82 on Tuesday February 23, 2021 @04:05PM
(#26242881)
Windows Defender flags all crypto miners. It is not unique to NiceHash. You don't have to add an exception for the whole NiceHash directory for it to work, but it makes it easier. NiceHash updates the miners occasionally, and if you don't add an exception for the whole directory, then every time a miner gets an update, it's disabled by Windows Defender until you manually allow it.
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Re:I heat my home by mining crypto currencies
by gkfasdfasdf on Tuesday February 23, 2021 @06:41PM
(#26244599)
Seems like there should be a way to have NiceHash sign their binaries or otherwise vet with Microsoft so Defender can automatically allow it. Setting an exception seems like it makes it a target for other malware to hijack or piggyback on.
Re:I heat my home by mining crypto currencies
by Sohcahtoa82 on Tuesday February 23, 2021 @07:33PM
(#26245019)
A signed binary won't help.
Cryptominers fall into the "Potentially Unwanted Program" category, along with remote access software like a VNC server. They're not malware, but can be installed maliciously. If Windows Defender finds a cryptominer, it has no way to determine if it was deliberately installed, so it flags. Manually excepting the directory NiceHash installs the miners is the only way around it.
Re:I heat my home by mining crypto currencies
by bigiain on Tuesday February 23, 2021 @08:22PM
(#26245450)
I wonder if other actual malware now actively looks for that directory to opportunistically install itself into if available?
Re:I heat my home by mining crypto currencies
by gkfasdfasdf on Tuesday February 23, 2021 @10:00PM
(#26246123)
Yes this would be my concern!