Coinhive.com Review

Based on looking at the website, Coinhive.com is no longer an active cryptomining service.

Instead, it serves as a platform for an individual Troy Hunt to shed light on the pervasive issue of cryptojacking and promote robust web security practices, particularly Content Security Policies CSPs. The original Coinhive business model, which involved secretly leveraging users’ CPU power for cryptocurrency mining, was inherently exploitative and ethically problematic.

The current owner uses the domain to educate and advocate for better internet security.

Here’s an overall review summary:

• Original Coinhive Service: Highly unethical, exploited user resources without consent for financial gain.
• Current Coinhive.com: Educational platform focused on cybersecurity, specifically countering cryptojacking.
• Ethical Stance Current: Highly ethical, aims to protect users and website owners from malicious activity.
• Purpose: To raise awareness about web vulnerabilities and promote Content Security Policies CSPs as a defense mechanism.
• Content Quality: Informative, detailed, and backed by data and research.

The previous iteration of Coinhive.com engaged in cryptojacking, a practice where websites secretly use visitors’ computing power to mine cryptocurrency.

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This practice is fundamentally unethical and, from an Islamic perspective, falls under the category of financial fraud and exploitation.

It involves unjustly taking resources CPU cycles, electricity from individuals without their explicit knowledge or consent, which is akin to theft and deception.

Such activities lead to ill-gotten gains and ultimately harm both the user and the integrity of online interactions.

Therefore, any service that facilitates such exploitation is strongly discouraged.

However, the current Coinhive.com, under its new ownership, has pivoted to a commendable and ethical purpose: combating the very issue it once symbolized.

It serves as a valuable resource for understanding web vulnerabilities and implementing security measures like Content Security Policies CSPs. This shift transforms the domain into a tool for good, aligning with principles of honesty, protection, and beneficial knowledge dissemination.

While the original service was detrimental, the current use of the domain is highly beneficial, promoting safety and transparency online.

Here are some excellent alternatives for ethical online endeavors and digital security, steering clear of any exploitative or questionable practices:

• Cloudflare:
  • Key Features: CDN, DDoS protection, WAF, SSL/TLS encryption, DNS services. Offers a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance website performance, security, and reliability.
  • Price: Free tier available. paid plans vary based on features and usage e.g., Pro, Business, Enterprise.
  • Pros: Significant security enhancements, faster website loading times, global network, robust analytics.
  • Cons: Advanced configurations can be complex for beginners, some features are locked behind higher-tier plans.
• OWASP Foundation:
  • Key Features: Open-source projects, documentation, tools, and community for web application security. Provides resources like the OWASP Top 10, a standard awareness document for developers and web application security.
  • Price: Free non-profit organization.
  • Pros: Vendor-neutral, community-driven, invaluable educational resources, promotes best practices for secure coding and development.
  • Cons: Not a commercial product. requires self-implementation of security concepts.
• Sucuri:
  • Key Features: Website security platform offering malware removal, firewall WAF, and DDoS protection. Specializes in cleaning and protecting compromised websites.
  • Price: Plans start around $199.99/year for basic protection.
  • Pros: Excellent for emergency malware removal, continuous monitoring, quick response times, comprehensive security suite.
  • Cons: Can be expensive for small websites, some users report false positives with the WAF.
• GitHub:
  • Key Features: Version control, collaborative code hosting, project management, CI/CD integrations. Essential for open-source development and secure code management.
  • Price: Free for public repositories and small teams. paid plans for advanced features and larger organizations.
  • Pros: Industry standard for code collaboration, vast ecosystem of tools and integrations, strong community support, promotes transparency and open-source contributions.
  • Cons: Can have a learning curve for new users, potential for security vulnerabilities if public repos are not properly managed.
• Let’s Encrypt:
  • Key Features: Free, automated, and open Certificate Authority CA that issues SSL/TLS certificates. Enables HTTPS for websites, securing communication.
  • Price: Free.
  • Pros: Makes HTTPS accessible to everyone, automated renewal process, widely supported.
  • Cons: Certificates are short-lived 90 days, but renewals are automated, requires some technical knowledge for setup.
• Digital Ocean:
  • Key Features: Cloud infrastructure provider offering virtual private servers Droplets, managed databases, and developer tools. Provides a secure and scalable environment for hosting applications.
  • Price: Varies based on resources used. Droplets start at $4/month.
  • Pros: Developer-friendly, clear pricing, strong community and documentation, good performance for the cost.
  • Cons: Less feature-rich than larger cloud providers AWS, Azure, requires some server management expertise.
• ProtonMail:
  • Key Features: Encrypted email service focused on privacy and security. Offers end-to-end encryption and zero-access encryption for user data.
  • Price: Free tier available. paid plans for additional storage and features.
  • Pros: Strong emphasis on privacy and security, based in Switzerland strong privacy laws, user-friendly interface.
  • Cons: Free tier has limited storage, not all integrations common with other email providers.

Find detailed reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org, for software products you can also check Producthunt.

IMPORTANT: We have not personally tested this company’s services. This review is based solely on information provided by the company on their website. For independent, verified user experiences, please refer to trusted sources such as Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org.

Coinhive.com Review & First Look: A Shift from Exploitation to Education

Based on checking the website, Coinhive.com has undergone a remarkable transformation from its original, ethically dubious purpose to a significant educational resource in cybersecurity.

Initially, Coinhive gained notoriety as a JavaScript-based cryptominer that allowed website owners to mine Monero using their visitors’ CPU power.

This model, while “ingenious” from a technical standpoint, was largely exploitative.

Visitors were often unaware their devices were being used, leading to increased electricity bills, slower performance, and a general sense of being taken advantage of.

The anonymous nature of cryptocurrency also made it an attractive tool for malicious actors, leading to widespread cryptojacking incidents on compromised websites. Killerhats.com Review

The Past: An Unethical Business Model

Coinhive’s original operation, particularly prevalent around 2017-2019, epitomized a problematic trend in online monetization.

Instead of traditional advertisements, content producers could embed a small JavaScript snippet that would turn visitors’ browsers into cryptocurrency mining machines.

This “CPU monetization” was a dark pattern—a user interface design that tricks users into doing things they might not want to do.

From an ethical standpoint, it violated user autonomy and consent, making it an impermissible practice. Socialtrades.xyz Review

The sheer scale of its adoption, even by legitimate sites looking for alternative revenue streams, highlighted a desperate need for better, ethical monetization strategies.

The Present: A Beacon for Cybersecurity

Today, Coinhive.com serves an entirely different, and frankly, commendable purpose.

Owned by cybersecurity expert Troy Hunt, the domain is now dedicated to documenting the aftermath of cryptojacking and promoting robust web security.

Hunt’s detailed blog post on the homepage outlines how he acquired the domain for free and is using it to log requests from sites still attempting to load the defunct Coinhive miner. Recoverdatasoft.com Review

This provides invaluable data on the persistence of cryptojacking campaigns and offers a practical demonstration of web vulnerabilities.

Key Takeaways from the Current Site:

• Educational Focus: The site is a into cryptojacking, the JavaScript supply chain paradox, and the importance of Content Security Policies CSPs.
• Data-Driven Insights: Hunt shares real data from the millions of requests still hitting the defunct Coinhive domain, illustrating the scale of the problem. For instance, he noted a peak of 3.63 million requests in a single day, with over 100,000 unique visitors daily still attempting to load the miner years after its shutdown. This underscores the pervasive nature of compromised websites.
• Practical Solutions: Beyond identifying the problem, the site offers actionable advice, particularly focusing on how CSPs can prevent unauthorized script execution.
• Ethical Stance: By repurposing a domain associated with unethical practices into a resource for combating those same practices, Hunt demonstrates a strong commitment to internet safety and integrity. This transformation aligns perfectly with principles of protecting others from harm and promoting beneficial knowledge.

In essence, Coinhive.com has transitioned from a symbol of digital exploitation to a powerful tool for digital defense.

Its current form stands as a testament to how even domains with a controversial past can be repurposed for significant ethical and educational impact.

Coinhive.com Cons: The Dark Side of Unethical Monetization and Persistent Threats

While the current Coinhive.com under Troy Hunt’s ownership is an ethical and educational resource, it’s crucial to understand the “cons” that defined its original, illicit operation. Bennettandbrown.com Review

These drawbacks are not of the current site, but rather the problematic nature of cryptojacking that the site now actively fights against.

The original Coinhive’s business model was fraught with severe ethical and practical issues, demonstrating why such methods are detrimental and should be avoided at all costs.

Exploitation of User Resources

The most significant con of the original Coinhive was its inherent exploitative nature.

• Unconsented Resource Usage: Users’ CPU power was secretly hijacked to mine cryptocurrency. This meant their devices ran hotter, consumed more electricity, and often experienced slower performance, all without explicit knowledge or permission. This is akin to a hidden tax on their digital experience.
  • Impact: Imagine your laptop battery draining faster, your computer fan whirring constantly, or your browsing experience becoming sluggish—all because a website you visited was secretly mining Monero.
  • Ethical Violation: This directly violates the principle of informed consent. In Islamic ethics, taking someone’s resources or benefiting from their property without their clear and willing consent is forbidden e.g., ghasb – usurpation, or riba – interest/usury in its broader sense of illicit gain. The lack of transparency was a major ethical failing.
• Increased Electricity Bills: Users unknowingly bore the cost of the electricity consumed by their devices for the mining operations. While individual consumption might seem small, aggregated across millions of users, it represented a significant, uncompensated transfer of value from the users to the website operators.

Security Vulnerabilities and Malicious Abuse

Coinhive’s design, despite its intentions for “legitimate” monetization, made it a prime target and tool for malicious actors.

• Cryptojacking Attacks: The ease with which the Coinhive script could be embedded made it a favorite tool for hackers. If a website’s JavaScript supply chain was compromised, attackers could inject the Coinhive script with their own keys, turning thousands of unsuspecting websites into involuntary mining farms.
  • Real-world Examples: Troy Hunt’s current Coinhive.com site highlights persistent requests years after Coinhive’s shutdown, indicating widespread, lingering infections. He found over 41,000 unique domains in referrer headers still attempting to embed Coinhive, often without the site owner’s knowledge.
  • Impact on Website Owners: Legitimate website owners found their sites compromised and their reputations tarnished. Users encountering cryptojacking on such sites would likely abandon them, leading to loss of trust and traffic.
• Lack of Control and Transparency: Once injected, the cryptominer operated with little oversight from the user. Even if a site owner implemented it “legitimately,” there was no clear way for users to opt out or understand the extent of resource usage.
• Difficulty in Detection and Removal: The nature of JavaScript-based mining made it hard for average users to detect without specialized tools. Even for website administrators, cleaning up persistent infections, especially those injected via compromised third-party libraries or routers, proved challenging. Troy Hunt’s current work showcases how pervasive these lingering infections are, with requests still coming from areas like Russia and China, often associated with compromised MikroTik routers.

Reputation Damage and Distrust

The widespread use of cryptojacking, largely facilitated by services like Coinhive, eroded trust in online content and monetization models. Videodroid.org Review

• Negative User Experience: The intrusive nature of cryptomining led to a negative user experience, directly contrasting with efforts to build a user-friendly and transparent internet.
• Public Backlash: As cryptojacking became more widely understood, there was significant public and media backlash against websites employing such methods, leading to a decline in their usage and an increase in ad-blockers that also targeted miners.
• Regulatory Scrutiny: The ethical and privacy implications of cryptojacking also raised concerns among privacy advocates and potentially regulatory bodies, signaling a move towards stricter controls on how websites interact with user devices.

In summary, the original Coinhive represented a dangerous precedent where financial gain was prioritized over user rights and digital safety.

Its legacy is a stark reminder of why transparent, consensual, and non-exploitative monetization models are paramount for a healthy internet ecosystem.

The current Coinhive.com effectively serves as an archaeological site and a classroom for these past mistakes, educating users and developers on how to prevent their recurrence.

Coinhive.com Alternatives: Ethical & Secure Digital Practices

Given the problematic nature of the original Coinhive.com, focusing on ethical and secure alternatives for digital activities is paramount.

The shift from exploitative cryptomining to transparent, beneficial online practices is not just a preference but a necessity for building a trustworthy internet. Rollinsnow.com Review

Here, we highlight categories of ethical alternatives that empower users, secure websites, and promote beneficial knowledge, rather than illicit gain.

1. Ethical Website Monetization

Instead of resource-intensive and intrusive methods, ethical monetization respects user privacy and consent.

• Content-Based Advertising with user control: Platforms like Google AdSense when configured ethically or Mediavine offer traditional advertising models that are transparent. The key is allowing users to manage cookie preferences and providing clear privacy policies.
  • Key Features: Contextual ads, display ads, video ads.
  • Pros: Established, widely understood, can be non-intrusive if implemented thoughtfully.
  • Cons: Ad blockers can reduce revenue, some ad networks collect extensive user data.
• Direct Support/Memberships: Many content creators are moving towards models where users directly support their work.
  • Patreon: Enables creators to receive recurring support from patrons.
  • Buy Me a Coffee: Offers a simple way for fans to make one-time or recurring contributions.
  • Key Features: Recurring payments, exclusive content, community building.
  • Pros: Direct relationship with audience, predictable income, strong sense of community.
  • Cons: Requires dedicated audience building, income may not be sufficient for all.
• Affiliate Marketing: Promoting products or services relevant to your content, earning a commission on sales.
  • Amazon Associates: A popular program for linking to Amazon products.
  • Key Features: Commission-based revenue, wide product selection.
  • Pros: Passive income potential, no direct selling required.
  • Cons: Relies on sales, commission rates can be low.

2. Website Security & Integrity

Protecting your website and users from malicious scripts, including cryptojackers, is crucial.

• Content Security Policies CSPs: As advocated by the current Coinhive.com, CSPs are a powerful defense mechanism. They allow website owners to define which sources of content scripts, images, styles, etc. are permitted to load on their pages.
  • Report URI: A service co-run by Troy Hunt that helps collect and analyze CSP violation reports, allowing website owners to see when malicious scripts are attempted to be loaded.
  • Key Features: Block unauthorized script execution, provide real-time violation reporting.
  • Pros: Proactive defense, helps identify ongoing attacks, highly configurable.
  • Cons: Can be complex to set up correctly, requires careful auditing to avoid breaking legitimate site functionality.
• Web Application Firewalls WAFs: These services sit in front of your website and filter out malicious traffic before it reaches your server.
  • Cloudflare: Offers WAF as part of its security suite.
  • Sucuri: Specializes in website security, including WAF and malware removal.
  • Key Features: DDoS protection, SQL injection prevention, cross-site scripting XSS prevention.
  • Pros: Comprehensive protection, reduces load on your server, helps with compliance.
  • Cons: Can add latency, requires configuration, may have false positives.
• Regular Security Audits & Vulnerability Scanners: Proactively identify weaknesses in your website.
  • OWASP ZAP: An open-source web application security scanner.
  • Key Features: Automated scanning, penetration testing tools.
  • Pros: Free, community-driven, helps identify common vulnerabilities.
  • Cons: Requires technical expertise, may not catch all vulnerabilities.

3. Privacy-Focused Browsing Tools

For users concerned about their data and privacy, tools that enhance browsing security are vital. Luush.co Review

• Privacy-Focused Browsers:
  • Brave Browser: Automatically blocks ads, trackers, and cryptojackers.
  • Mozilla Firefox: Offers enhanced tracking protection and a strong commitment to user privacy.
  • Key Features: Built-in ad/tracker blocking, privacy-first design.
  • Pros: Faster browsing, reduced data consumption, enhanced privacy.
  • Cons: Some websites may break due to aggressive blocking, may require adjustment period.
• Ad Blockers/Privacy Extensions:
  • uBlock Origin: A highly efficient and widely respected content blocker that also blocks cryptominers.
  • Key Features: Blocks ads, trackers, malware domains, cryptominers.
  • Pros: Free, open-source, highly effective, configurable.
  • Cons: Can sometimes block legitimate content, requires occasional updates.

By embracing these ethical and secure alternatives, individuals and organizations can foster a digital environment built on trust, transparency, and respect for user autonomy, moving away from the dark patterns of cryptojacking and similar exploitative practices.

How to Avoid Unethical Online Practices Like Cryptojacking

The history of Coinhive.com serves as a cautionary tale: the pursuit of monetization at the expense of user consent and resource exploitation is fundamentally unethical and harmful.

Cryptojacking, where a user’s computing power is secretly used to mine cryptocurrency, embodies this problematic approach.

For website owners, developers, and everyday internet users, understanding how to avoid both engaging in and falling victim to such practices is crucial for maintaining a healthy and trustworthy online ecosystem.

For Website Owners and Developers: Build with Integrity

The onus is on those who create and manage online platforms to ensure their operations are ethical and secure. Instant-doge.eu Review

1. Prioritize User Consent and Transparency:
   • Explicit Monetization: If you plan to monetize, do so through transparent means. Clearly inform users about your business model e.g., “This site is supported by ads,” “Consider a membership”.
   • Clear Privacy Policies: Make your privacy policy easily accessible, written in plain language, and genuinely reflect your data handling practices. If you collect user data, explain what you collect, why, and how it’s used.
   • Opt-in for Resource Usage: For any non-standard resource usage like a legitimate, consented form of distributed computing, ensure users explicitly opt-in, understand the implications, and can easily opt-out.
2. Implement Robust Security Measures: The best defense against cryptojacking and other malicious injections is a strong security posture.
   • Content Security Policies CSPs: This is your first line of defense against unauthorized script execution. A CSP dictates which external resources scripts, stylesheets, images, etc. are allowed to load on your site and from which domains.
     • Example: Content-Security-Policy: default-src 'self'. script-src 'self' trusted.cdn.com. img-src 'self' data:. This would only allow scripts from your own domain and trusted.cdn.com, blocking any attempt to load a cryptominer from coinhive.com or other unknown sources.
     • Reporting: Use the report-uri directive to get real-time alerts if a CSP is violated, enabling quick detection and response to attempted injections.
   • Subresource Integrity SRI: For third-party scripts you do use e.g., from CDNs, SRI ensures that the files haven’t been tampered with. It uses a cryptographic hash to verify the integrity of the script. If the hash doesn’t match, the browser won’t load the script.
     • Example: <script src="https://example.com/example-framework.js" integrity="sha384-oqVuAfXRKap7fdgcCY5uykM6+EfwRPo5F0yP+RtwO5MT/wD4Wb/LqY9Nugl/E2p5" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
   • Regular Software Updates: Keep your content management system CMS, plugins, themes, and server software up to date. Outdated software is a common entry point for attackers.
   • Strong Authentication: Enforce strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication MFA for all administrative interfaces. Weak credentials are a prime target for initial compromise.
   • HTTPS Everywhere: Always serve your website over HTTPS. This encrypts communication and, importantly, verifies the integrity of the content being served, making it harder for intermediaries like compromised routers to inject malicious scripts.
3. Audit Third-Party Integrations: Every third-party script, library, or widget you add to your site is a potential vulnerability.
   • Vet Providers: Only use reputable and trustworthy third-party services.
   • Minimize Dependencies: Load only what is absolutely necessary. The more external scripts you use, the larger your attack surface.
   • Monitor for Changes: Be vigilant for unexpected behavior or performance degradation after adding or updating third-party components.

For Internet Users: Protect Yourself

As a user, you also have a role in avoiding and mitigating the impact of unethical online practices.

1. Use Privacy-Focused Browsers and Extensions:
   • Brave Browser: Automatically blocks ads, trackers, and cryptominers by default.
   • uBlock Origin: A powerful ad and content blocker that effectively prevents most cryptojacking scripts from running.
   • NoScript/ScriptSafe: These extensions give you fine-grained control over which JavaScript executes on a page, allowing you to block scripts from unknown or suspicious domains.
2. Monitor Your Device Performance:
   • Unusual Fan Noise: If your computer’s fan suddenly starts spinning loudly and continuously on a seemingly static webpage, it could be a sign of cryptojacking.
   • Sluggish Performance: Unexpected slowdowns while browsing might indicate your CPU is being overutilized.
   • High CPU Usage: Check your task manager Windows or activity monitor macOS/Linux for processes related to your browser consuming unusually high CPU percentage.
3. Keep Software Updated: Ensure your operating system, web browser, and antivirus software are always up to date. These updates often include patches for known security vulnerabilities.
4. Be Skeptical of “Free” Content: While much of the internet is legitimately free, be wary of sites that offer content that seems too good to be true without any clear monetization model. This isn’t a hard rule, but a prompt for caution.
5. Use Reputable Antivirus/Anti-Malware Software: Many security suites now include specific protections against cryptojacking and other online threats.

By adopting these proactive measures, both website operators and users can contribute to a safer, more ethical internet where value is exchanged transparently and consent is respected, rather than exploited.

Coinhive.com: A Case Study in the Evolution of Web Security and Threats

It highlights how quickly new monetization models can emerge, how easily they can be abused, and the critical importance of adaptable defense mechanisms.

This evolution underscores several key aspects of modern web security.

The Rise and Fall of In-Browser Cryptomining

• The Initial Appeal: In-browser cryptomining emerged as an alternative to traditional advertising, promising a way for content creators to monetize without resorting to intrusive ads. It was seen as a “user-friendly” approach, where users supposedly “paid” with their CPU cycles instead of viewing ads. Coinhive quickly became the dominant player due to its ease of implementation.
• The Inevitable Abuse: Despite some initial “legitimate” uses, the lack of transparency and the ease of embedding the script led to rampant abuse. Malicious actors began injecting Coinhive and similar miners into compromised websites, ad networks, and even IoT devices like MikroTik routers. This “cryptojacking” turned millions of unsuspecting users’ devices into a vast, distributed mining network for illicit gain.
  • Statistics: As Troy Hunt notes on the current Coinhive.com, even years after the service shut down, millions of requests for the Coinhive miner were still hitting the domain daily. This demonstrates the scale and persistence of compromised systems.
• The Ethical Dilemma: The core problem was the lack of informed consent. Users were not explicitly asked if they wanted to donate their computing power. it was simply taken. This secrecy, coupled with the drain on resources, made it an unethical practice. It became clear that “CPU monetization” without explicit, clear consent was a form of digital theft.
• The Shutdown: Facing increasing public outcry, blacklisting by ad blockers and security software, and dwindling profitability as cryptocurrency values fluctuated, Coinhive officially shut down in March 2019. This marked a significant victory for user privacy and ethical web practices.

The Importance of Adaptive Defense Mechanisms

The Coinhive saga spurred significant advancements and renewed focus on web security defenses. Forest-therapy-scotland.com Review

• Content Security Policies CSPs: The most direct and effective defense against cryptojacking and other forms of malicious script injection is a robust CSP. By white-listing approved sources for scripts and other content, CSPs prevent browsers from executing unauthorized code. The current Coinhive.com strongly advocates for CSPs, providing practical examples and linking to resources like Report URI, a service designed to collect CSP violation reports.
  • Proactive Security: CSPs represent a shift from reactive security detecting and removing malware after infection to proactive security preventing unauthorized code execution in the first place.
• Subresource Integrity SRI: For websites relying on third-party libraries delivered via CDNs, SRI became crucial. It ensures that the files loaded from external sources haven’t been tampered with, preventing attackers from injecting malicious code into commonly used libraries.
• Increased Scrutiny of Third-Party Scripts: The Coinhive incident made web developers and administrators far more cautious about including external JavaScript. Every third-party dependency became a potential attack vector, emphasizing the need for vetting and continuous monitoring.
• Browser-Level Protections: Web browsers also adapted, with many integrating built-in cryptominer blocking capabilities or enhancing their tracking protection features to include miner detection.

Coinhive.com’s Legacy: A Perpetual Reminder

Troy Hunt’s decision to acquire and repurpose the Coinhive.com domain transforms it into a living monument to these lessons learned.

• Educational Tool: The site serves as a real-world demonstration of persistent threats and the importance of fundamental web security hygiene. By showing the sheer volume of continued requests, it provides tangible evidence of how long compromises can linger.
• Advocacy for Best Practices: It actively promotes CSPs, HTTPS, and other security best practices, turning a symbol of web abuse into a platform for web defense.
• Data for Research: The logging of ongoing Coinhive requests provides valuable data for researchers studying web security and the propagation of malware.
• Ethical Repurposing: The transition exemplifies how assets associated with harmful practices can be repurposed for beneficial and educational purposes, reflecting a commitment to digital safety and integrity.

In essence, Coinhive.com’s journey from notorious cryptominer to cybersecurity resource encapsulates the ongoing battle for a more secure and ethical internet.

Coinhive.com Pricing: The Cost of Exploitation and its Ethical Alternative

The concept of “pricing” for Coinhive.com needs to be viewed through two distinct lenses: its original, now-defunct operation as a cryptomining service, and its current incarnation as an educational platform.

The pricing model of the original Coinhive was insidious because it effectively placed the cost onto the unsuspecting users, while the current site operates on principles of open access and knowledge sharing.

The “Pricing” of the Original Coinhive: Hidden Costs for Users

The original Coinhive service didn’t have a direct “price” for website owners in the traditional sense. Carrentalchoice.com Review

Instead, it was a “free” or rather, no direct monetary cost to implement service that enabled website owners to generate revenue by leveraging their visitors’ computing power.

The real “price” was hidden and borne by the end-users:

• Electricity Consumption: Users’ devices consumed extra electricity to run the mining algorithms. While perhaps small for an individual, cumulatively this amounted to a significant, uncompensated financial burden on users. This was a direct transfer of utility costs from the website owner to the visitor.
• CPU Cycles and Performance Degradation: The most immediate “cost” to users was the allocation of their CPU resources to mining. This led to slower browsing, increased device temperatures, and potentially reduced device lifespan. For someone on an older device or with limited resources, this impact was even more pronounced.
• Bandwidth Usage indirectly: While mining itself isn’t intensely bandwidth-heavy, the initial script loading and communication with the mining pool did consume some network resources.

Coinhive’s Revenue Model for website owners:
Website owners who implemented Coinhive would receive a share of the Monero cryptocurrency mined by their visitors. Reports indicated that Coinhive was making an estimated $250,000 per month at its peak, demonstrating the substantial illicit financial gains derived from this exploitative model. This was a “pay-for-nothing” scheme for the user, as they received no benefit for the resources they expended.

The “Pricing” of the Current Coinhive.com: Free Knowledge, Invaluable Insight

Under Troy Hunt’s ownership, Coinhive.com operates with a completely different “pricing” model, one based on open access to information and education.

• Free Access to Content: The entire blog post, data analysis, and security insights shared on Coinhive.com are completely free to access. There are no paywalls, subscriptions, or hidden charges.
• Open-Source Code: The code that now runs on Coinhive.com, including the JavaScript and WebAssembly WASM implementation that displays the warning message, is available on GitHub as open-source. This means anyone can view, audit, and contribute to it, further enhancing transparency and collaboration in the cybersecurity community.
• Value Proposition: The value derived from the current Coinhive.com is in its educational capacity. It offers:
  • Awareness: Highlighting the persistence of cryptojacking and other web vulnerabilities.
  • Guidance: Providing actionable advice on implementing Content Security Policies CSPs and other security best practices.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Offering real-world statistics on ongoing attacks, which is invaluable for researchers and security professionals.

While Troy Hunt also runs commercial services like Report URI and offers private workshops related to cybersecurity, Coinhive.com itself remains a free public service. Greenearthstores.com Review

Its “price” is simply the investment of time by those who contribute to the open-source project and those who consume the valuable information it provides, all for the betterment of internet security.

This ethical approach stands in stark contrast to the original Coinhive’s model of hidden exploitation.

How to Remove Coinhive.com If You Encounter It Maliciously

If you’re encountering persistent requests to coinhive.com on your website, it’s not because the service is active, but because your site is likely compromised with a lingering cryptojacking script.

The current coinhive.com domain, owned by Troy Hunt, actively blocks these requests and educates about them.

Therefore, “removing Coinhive.com” from your site means removing the malicious code that attempts to call it. This is a critical security clean-up operation. Popmyway.com Review

For Website Owners: Cleaning Up a Compromised Site

This process can be complex and requires careful attention.

The goal is to identify and eradicate the unauthorized script and fix the underlying vulnerability that allowed it.

1. Isolate and Backup Your Website:
   • Take Offline: If possible, temporarily take your website offline or put it in maintenance mode to prevent further infection or user exposure.
   • Full Backup: Create a complete backup of your website files and database before making any changes. This is crucial for recovery if something goes wrong.
2. Identify the Source of the Malicious Script: This is the most challenging step. The Coinhive script or other cryptominer can be injected in several ways:
   • HTML Source: Check your website’s HTML source code for suspicious <script> tags, especially those loading external JavaScript files from unknown or unexpected domains. Look for coinhive.min.js or cryptonight.wasm calls.
   • JavaScript Files: Malicious code might be injected directly into your existing JavaScript files e.g., theme.js, functions.js.
   • Database: For CMS platforms like WordPress, malware can be injected into the database, often in post content, options, or widget areas.
   • Compromised Plugins/Themes: Outdated or poorly coded plugins/themes are common vectors. Scan them for suspicious code.
   • Server-Side Injections: Sometimes, attackers gain access to your server and modify files outside of your website’s public HTML directory or inject code into server configuration files .htaccess, nginx config.
   • Third-Party Dependencies: If you use external JavaScript libraries or CDN-hosted files, check if those third-party services themselves have been compromised e.g., the Browsealoud incident Troy Hunt mentions.
   • Compromised Routers MikroTik: As highlighted by Troy Hunt’s research, some infections occur at the router level, injecting the script as web traffic passes through. This is harder to detect from the website’s end and requires checking your network hardware.
   • Tools for Identification:
     • File Comparison: Compare your current website files with a clean backup if you have one to spot changes.
     • Malware Scanners: Use reputable website malware scanners e.g., Sucuri SiteCheck, Wordfence for WordPress.
     • Manual Code Review: Search your entire codebase for keywords like coinhive, miner, crypto, monero, or unusual base64 encoded strings.
     • Browser Developer Tools: The “Network” tab can show you all requests being made by your page, and the “Console” can reveal errors from blocked scripts.
3. Clean the Infection:
   • Remove Malicious Code: Carefully remove all identified malicious code snippets from your HTML, JavaScript, and database.
   • Replace Compromised Files: If core files are compromised, replace them with clean versions from official sources e.g., re-upload WordPress core files.
   • Remove Backdoors: Attackers often leave backdoors to regain access. Look for suspicious PHP files e.g., webshells or unusual user accounts.
4. Fix the Underlying Vulnerability: Removing the script is only a temporary fix if the vulnerability persists.
   • Change All Passwords: Immediately change all passwords for your hosting account, FTP, database, CMS admin, and any other relevant services. Use strong, unique passwords and enable Multi-Factor Authentication MFA where available.
   • Update All Software: Update your CMS, themes, plugins, and server software to their latest versions.
   • Implement Content Security Policy CSP: This is crucial for preventing future script injections. Configure a strict CSP that only allows scripts from trusted sources. Use a service like Report URI to monitor for violations.
   • Server Hardening: Ensure your server is properly configured and secured e.g., disabling unnecessary services, limiting file permissions.
5. Monitor and Verify:
   • Regular Scans: Continue to regularly scan your website for malware.
   • Monitor CSP Reports: Actively review CSP violation reports to catch any new injection attempts.
   • Server Logs: Check server access logs for unusual activity or repeated failed login attempts.

For Users: Dealing with Persistent Coinhive Prompts from a compromised site

If you’re a user encountering a “Coinhive” message or suspected cryptojacking from a site which would be from a compromised site still loading the old miner, here’s what you can do:

1. Use an Ad Blocker/Script Blocker: Tools like uBlock Origin are highly effective at blocking known cryptomining scripts and many other malicious elements.
2. Report to the Site Owner: If you believe a legitimate site is compromised, drop a polite note to the site owner or administrator, informing them about the suspicious activity. They might be unaware.
3. Avoid the Site: If the site consistently exhibits suspicious behavior or high CPU usage, it’s best to avoid it until the issue is resolved.
4. Keep Your Browser Updated: Modern browsers often include built-in protections against known threats.

Removing Coinhive.com is less about “canceling a subscription” and more about digital forensics and security hardening to protect your digital assets and your visitors.

It’s a testament to the persistent nature of online threats and the ongoing need for vigilance. Cinchdollars.com Review

Coinhive.com vs. Other Cryptomining Services: A Dark Chapter in Online Monetization

In the era of in-browser cryptomining, Coinhive.com was not alone, but it was undoubtedly the most prominent and widely adopted service.

Understanding its ecosystem of competitors and successors highlights the controversial nature of this monetization model and why it ultimately failed.

Coinhive: The Pioneer and the Problem

• Dominance: Coinhive launched in August 2017 and quickly became the go-to service for in-browser Monero mining. Its ease of integration a simple JavaScript snippet and the anonymity of cryptocurrency made it attractive to both legitimate though ethically questionable website owners and malicious actors.
• Modus Operandi: Its core function was to leverage visitors’ CPU power to mine Monero, with a significant percentage typically 30% going to Coinhive as a service fee, and the rest to the website owner.
• Ethical Failing: The primary issue was the lack of transparency and consent. While some sites declared its use, the vast majority did not, effectively stealing users’ computing resources and electricity. This inherent deceptiveness made it widely condemned.
• Abuse by Cryptojackers: Coinhive’s popularity meant its script became a prime target for injection into compromised websites, ad networks, and even routers, leading to widespread cryptojacking campaigns. Troy Hunt’s current Coinhive.com clearly demonstrates the scale of these lingering infections.
• Shutdown: Faced with increasing public backlash, blacklisting by security software, and declining Monero values, Coinhive shut down in March 2019.

Competitors and Successors All Faced Similar Ethical Issues

Numerous other services emerged to capitalize on the in-browser mining trend, all sharing similar ethical pitfalls.

• JSEcoin:
  • Similar Model: Also offered JavaScript-based mining for its own JSEcoin cryptocurrency.
  • Distinction: Attempted to differentiate itself by emphasizing a slightly more transparent model, allowing users to choose to mine or view ads. However, in practice, widespread unconsented use persisted.
  • Outcome: Failed to gain significant traction and eventually pivoted or faded.
• Crypto-Loot:
  • Direct Competitor: Positioned itself as a direct alternative to Coinhive, offering similar mining scripts and Monero payouts.
  • Abuse: Was also heavily abused by cryptojackers due to its similar functionality.
  • Outcome: Suffered a similar fate to Coinhive, losing relevance as the in-browser mining trend declined.
• WebMiner:
  • Focus: Another JavaScript miner, often used for Monero.
  • Ethical Stance: Like its counterparts, it struggled with the ethical implications of unconsented mining.
  • Outcome: Never achieved significant market share and ultimately became obsolete.
• Coinpot:
  • Not a direct miner: Coinpot was primarily a micro-wallet and faucet hub that integrated with some mining services. While not a miner itself, it was often part of ecosystems that encouraged in-browser mining.
  • Context: Its role was more about collecting small amounts of various cryptocurrencies.
  • Ethical Stance: While Coinpot itself wasn’t directly unethical, its association with mining faucets that often used in-browser miners brought it into the same problematic orbit.

Why This Model is Ethically Unacceptable

The common thread among all these services was the fundamental ethical flaw: the exploitation of user resources without clear, informed consent. From an Islamic perspective, this constitutes ghasb usurpation or unlawful taking of property and ghish deception. Any financial gain derived from such practices is ill-gotten. The pursuit of profit through hidden means that burden users is inherently unjust and contributes to a dishonest online environment.

• Lack of Rida Consent: Islamic finance emphasizes the importance of rida mutual consent in all transactions. Secretly using a user’s CPU power and electricity directly contradicts this principle.
• Avoidance of Israf Waste and Tabdhir Squandering: While not directly caused by the miner, the increased electricity consumption without user benefit could be seen as an indirect contributor to unnecessary energy expenditure.
• Building Amana Trust: Trust is paramount in all dealings. Services that secretly utilize user resources destroy this trust, leading to a degraded user experience and a general skepticism towards online platforms.

In conclusion, the comparison of Coinhive with its peers serves as a historical lesson. Ugsage.com Review

While technically innovative, the entire category of unconsented in-browser cryptomining proved to be ethically untenable.

The current Coinhive.com, by highlighting these past abuses and promoting ethical security measures, serves as a beacon, reminding us to prioritize user consent and digital integrity above all else.

FAQ

What was Coinhive.com originally used for?

Coinhive.com was originally a JavaScript-based cryptomining service that allowed website owners to mine Monero cryptocurrency by using the CPU power of their website visitors, often without their explicit knowledge or consent.

Is Coinhive.com still active as a cryptomining service?

No, the original Coinhive.com cryptomining service shut down in March 2019 due to declining profitability, public backlash, and blacklisting by security software.

What is Coinhive.com used for now?

Currently, Coinhive.com is owned by cybersecurity expert Troy Hunt and serves as an educational platform. Marchingbandnow.com Review

It documents the persistence of cryptojacking attacks and promotes web security best practices, particularly Content Security Policies CSPs.

Is cryptojacking ethical?

No, cryptojacking is not ethical.

It involves secretly leveraging a user’s computing power and electricity without their consent for financial gain, which is a form of exploitation and can be considered akin to digital theft.

Why is cryptojacking considered unethical?

Cryptojacking is unethical because it lacks transparency and informed consent, consumes a user’s resources CPU, electricity without permission, can degrade device performance, and contributes to a deceptive online environment.

How can I tell if my website is still trying to load Coinhive?

You can check your website’s HTML source code and JavaScript files for references to coinhive.min.js or cryptonight.wasm. You can also use browser developer tools Network tab to see if requests to coinhive.com are being made.

What are Content Security Policies CSPs?

Content Security Policies CSPs are a web security standard that allows website owners to specify which external resources scripts, stylesheets, images, etc. are permitted to load on their pages, thereby preventing unauthorized code execution like cryptominers.

How do CSPs help prevent cryptojacking?

CSPs help prevent cryptojacking by allowing website owners to create an “allow list” of trusted script sources.

If a malicious script from an unauthorized domain like an old Coinhive miner attempts to load, the CSP will block it, preventing it from executing.

What is Subresource Integrity SRI and how does it relate to Coinhive?

Subresource Integrity SRI is a security feature that allows browsers to verify that resources like JavaScript files fetched from third-party servers have not been tampered with.

It’s relevant to Coinhive as attackers often inject miners by compromising third-party scripts.

What happens if my website is still trying to load Coinhive’s script?

If your website is still trying to load Coinhive’s script, it means your site is likely compromised with a lingering infection.

While the script won’t mine cryptocurrency as the service is defunct, it indicates a security vulnerability that needs to be addressed.

What should I do if my website is compromised with a cryptojacking script?

If your website is compromised, you should immediately take it offline if possible, create a full backup, identify and remove all malicious code, fix the underlying vulnerability e.g., update software, change weak passwords, and implement robust security measures like CSPs.

Are there any ethical ways to monetize a website without ads?

Yes, ethical ways to monetize a website without ads include direct support models e.g., Patreon, Buy Me a Coffee, memberships, premium content, affiliate marketing with transparency, or selling your own digital or physical products.

What are some good alternatives for website security?

Good alternatives for website security include implementing Content Security Policies CSPs, using Web Application Firewalls WAFs like Cloudflare or Sucuri, regularly updating all software, enforcing strong authentication, and conducting security audits.

How can users protect themselves from cryptojacking?

Users can protect themselves by using privacy-focused browsers e.g., Brave, Firefox with enhanced tracking protection, installing effective ad/script blockers e.g., uBlock Origin, keeping their operating system and browser updated, and monitoring device performance for unusual CPU usage.

Does Coinhive.com contain any personal user data now?

The current Coinhive.com, as described by Troy Hunt, primarily logs requests to the defunct miner script.

It does not collect or store personal user data in the way the original mining service might have, nor does it aim to monetize user resources.

What is the origin of the current Coinhive.com domain?

The current owner, Troy Hunt, acquired the coinhive.com domain and several related ones for free in May 2020 after the original service shut down and the domain stopped resolving.

Why did Troy Hunt acquire the Coinhive.com domain?

Troy Hunt acquired the domain to use it for good: to educate about the persistence of cryptojacking, highlight web vulnerabilities, and advocate for strong security measures like Content Security Policies.

Can I contribute to the current Coinhive.com project?

Yes, the code that now runs on coinhive.com is available on GitHub, and the owner, Troy Hunt, is open to pull requests and suggestions for further improvements or useful functionalities.

What is the significance of the high number of requests still hitting coinhive.com?

The high number of requests e.g., over 3 million daily at peak, with 100,000+ unique visitors years after Coinhive’s shutdown signifies the vast number of websites and routers that remain compromised with old cryptojacking scripts, highlighting a widespread security issue.

Is Coinhive.com related to “Have I Been Pwned”?

Coinhive.com is not directly related to “Have I Been Pwned,” but both are projects run by Troy Hunt, a prominent cybersecurity expert.

“Have I Been Pwned” is a service that allows users to check if their email addresses or phone numbers have been compromised in data breaches.