Mining cryptocurrencies is like “drinking water” for hackers. From Starbucks coffeeshops to Tesla’s high-tech engines, crypto miners have found a way to abuse the system to mine cryptocurrencies of different types.
Now, the latest victims seem to be none others but Apple users. The Verge just reported that one calendar app that could be found in the Mac App Store has been “cryptomining” on the backend, and for doing so, the app gives users some additional features. While Apple is now aware of the “lure” and mining activity of Calendar 2, the company has still not taken down the app. Users need to be aware of the potential threat of using the app.
According to press, the calendar app has been developed by the company Qbix, which simply “inserted”an additional code in order help the app mine one of the most popular cryptos – Monero. Monero is one of the most mined cryptos through “illegal” and non-consentual ways for users.
While the app is still on the Apple store, it is very unusual for it to be there, especially when there are virtually no other mining apps in the store.
The app lures users into using the calendar by offering certain paid features for free. Thus, the more users take advantage of the app, the more Monero can be mined.
According to The Verge, the calendar app used a bug that kept the miner going even if users stop using the entire app and just close it, and a second bug that caused the miner to consume more resources than originally planned. A user noted on Twitter that the app “ate 200% CPU until I found it and killed it. I didn’t expect a miner infection from an App Store vendor. Wow.” The app’s current rating is two out of five in the App Store, with many recent reviews docking stars because of the unwanted mining. The developed of the app itself, Qubix, is now working on fixing the backend and getting rid of the bugs that caused the damage to users.
While Apple has not responded yet, the idea that a certain calendar app can use a customer’s computer and battery to mine Monero is probably against any ethical normas when it comes to available apps in the Apple store and how users trust what can get in and what cannot in the virtual Apple store.
According to The Verge, they have already reached the company for a response and immediate action.