Monthly Archives: March 2015

The popular BitTorrent client uTorrent is facing a backlash after trying to turn a buck through cryptocurrency mining.

On Thursday, users started reporting that uTorrent had silently installed cryptocurrency software from Epic Scale as part of version 3.4.2 build 28913. Once installed, Epic Scale uses some of the computer's spare processing power to generate cryptocurrency (such as Bitcoin or Litecoin).

In response to user complaints, a uTorrent manager confirmed parent company BitTorrent's partnership with Epic Scale, saying the software generates revenue for uTorrent while also contributing some funds to charity. In the future, Epic Scale plans to contribute CPU cycles to other initiatives, such as Genome mapping and other academic studies that require a great deal of processing power.

However, the manager denied that EpicScale was installing without the user's permission, claiming that uTorrent could not reproduce the issue. That's despite complaints from five users on uTorrent's forums who say the software was installed automatically in the latest update.

Update:BitTorrent supplied PCWorld with this comment:

"We have reviewed the issue closely and can confirm there is no silent install happening. It is in fact impossible for partner software to be installed without user permission. We are continuing to look at the issue. But it is almost certain these users accepted the offer during install...

In terms of user complaints in our forums, we always take these claims seriously. We highly value our users, they are a passionate and tech savvy group. In the last 24 hours we have received less than a dozen inquiries out of several million offers. That should put things into perspective."

In any event, users can partially uninstall EpicScale through the Add/Remove Programs menu in Windows. A registry modification will remain in the ProgramData/Epicscale folder, though users can safely delete this folder once the uninstall is complete. That hasn't stopped dozens of outraged users from swearing off uTorrent in favor of alternatives such as qBittorrent, Deluge, and Transmission.

Why this matters: Cryptocurrency mining burns more than just spare system resources. By making the CPU work harder than it normally would, it also consumes more energy, potentially raising users' electricity bills. While it's ironic that users are aghast at an act of leeching from a program that facilitates media piracy, that doesn't let uTorrent off the hook for a lack of transparency. Some quick backtracking seems likely.

Jared writes for PCWorld and TechHive from his remote outpost in Cincinnati. More by Jared Newman

Originally posted here:
uTorrent quietly installs a cryptocurrency miner on users' computers

New submitter Eloking sends news that uTorrent, a popular BitTorrent client, is silently installing cryptocurrency mining software for many users. [uTorrent] brings in revenue through in-app advertising and also presents users with offers to try out third-party software when installed or updated. These offers are usually not placed on users machines without consent, but this week many users began complaining about a rogue offer being silently installed. The complaints mention the Epic Scale tool, a piece of software that generates revenue through cryptocurrency mining. To do so, it uses the host computers CPU cycles. ... The sudden increase in complaints over the past two days suggests that something went wrong with the install and update process. Several users specifically say that they were vigilant, but instead of a popup asking for permission the Epic Scale offer was added silently.

Original post:
uTorrent Quietly Installs Cryptocurrency Miner

For years, if youve used BitTorrent, youve probably used Torrent to manage and control torrent files. The software is the most popular Torrent client online with an estimated 100 million users, and its valued for its small footprint and rich feature set. Torrent has been including adware for several years (despite warning people in its install against installations that attempt to charge for the program), but it may have crossed a line this time numerous users are reporting that installing the program also silently installs an application called Epic Scale.

Epic Scale is shady looking, to say the least. The company website claims a straight link between installing Epic Scale and benefiting charities literally.

The impression the website gives is that by installing this program, you literally donate compute time to charity. Its like Folding@Home, or SETI, or another equivalent project right?

Well, no. Not exactly. A little farther down the page, the website notes:

How is money earned?

Solving math problems for weather prediction, physics simulations, cryptography (including cryptocurrency mining) and more has real world value. We solve these problems on behalf of our trusted partners, and donate proceeds to your favorite charities.

Heres a hint: The only one of those activities that actually earns any money is cryptocurrency mining, and thats what Epic Scale does.

The program sets itself to Continuously by default

On the one hand, this is actually kind of baffling. Cryptocurrency mining on CPUs went out years ago. Its incredibly unlikely that Epic Scale could generate much in the way of income even with massive amounts of miners, CPU scaling simply isnt good enough. On the other hand, the company has ambitions its CPU-scanning software notes that my system (a Core i7-3960X) has zero AMD and zero Nvidia cards. Thats not true but obviously Epic Scale wants to, erm, scale out.

See the rest here:
uTorrent accused of bundling cryptocurrency malware with popular BitTorrent client