Norton 360 allows user to mine Ethereum through its platform

On June 2, NortonLifeLock (formerly Symantec) announced the launch of Norton Crypto, a new feature within its Norton 360 internet security suite wherein, select Norton customers will be invited to mine Ethereum using the new interface. The company has further specified that, in the coming months, it intends to expand the program to allow full use by all of its 13 million customers.

CEO, Vincent Pilette, explained that the new Ethereum mining feature will provide a secure avenue for the company’s customers to mine digital assets. Gagan Singh, the Chief Product Officer at NortonLifeLock, also added that Norton Crypto will allow users to easily turn the idle time on their PCs into an opportunity to mine digital assets with just a few clicks.

“As the crypto economy continues to become a more important part of our customers’ lives, we want to empower them to mine cryptocurrency with Norton, a brand they trust.”

The key message being that Norton Crypto delivers a secure, reliable way for consumers to mine Ethereum without opening themselves and their devices up to malware exposure. It cited the disabling of security software and the installation of malware and ransomware as some of the dangers of mining on personal computers.

Ethereum Wallet Stored in the Norton Cloud

Norton Crypto offers wallet services thus removing the additional risk of potentially losing a personal hard drive with Ethereum earnings. The team at Norton Crypto explained the workings of the wallet service through the following statement.

Earnings are commonly stored directly on miners’ hard drives, where their digital wallet could be lost should it fail. Norton Crypto delivers a secure, reliable way for consumers to mine for Ethereum without opening themselves and their devices up to these pitfalls. Once cryptocurrency has been earned, customers can track and transfer earnings into their Norton Crypto Wallet, which is stored in the cloud so it cannot be lost due to hard drive failure.

Lowering the Mining Barriers

While the company will start slow, with a focus on helping customers safely mine Ethereum, NortonLifeLock will add other currencies in the future. What’s more, NortonLifeLock claims its crypto mining software comes with the Norton CryptoWallet, which is designed to allow miners to securely store their mined coins in the cloud, giving users an extra layer of security, while also lowering the barrier to entry.

Offering the Advantage of Cloud Mining

The hash rate required to mine a block on Ethereum has grown to a level wherein joining a mining pool or cloud mining service is the most cost effective choice.

Additionally, the global semiconductor shortage has resulted in a surge in the prices of computer hardware such as high-end graphics cards. Platform-based mining services may grow in popularity as a result of these barriers, especially if they make it easy for users.

Not having to shell out $1,200 for a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti would also be a plus for most new to the crypto mining scene.