Popular Torrent Client Can Steal Your CPU Cycles to Mine Bitcoins

If you Recently Installed or Updated uTorrent on your PC, you May Have Have Picked Up an Unwanted Passenger: a Bitcoin Miner Called, 'Epic Scale'. If you Don't Pay Attention, that Piece of Code Can be Inadvertently Installed with the Latest uTorrent Build (Version 3.4.2). It Can then Use your Computer as Part of a Bitcoin Farm (Litecoin, to be Exact) to Generate Revenue for 3rd Parties. Users 1st Reported the Situation on uTorrent's Forums and it was Quickly Confirmed by a Senior Support Manager. He Said that, the App "cannot be installed without permission" but, One User Claimed that, there was "never a warning about it", even though, he Opted Out of Other Bundled Software. Once it's Installed, the Program will Take Up CPU Cycles, Slowing your Machine and Causing it to Burn More Power. The Support Person Described 'Epic Scale' as "easy to uninstall" but, Some Users Reported Otherwise. One Said it Didn't Show Up in the "Programs and Features" List for Windows and Another Needed Anti-Adware Software to be Rid of it. ('Epic Scale' Said the App Can be Uninstalled Normally but, Confirmed that, it Leaves Behind Registry Keys.) "We have reviewed the issue closely and can confirm there is no silent install happening." -- BitTorrent.


uTorrent's Parent Company, BitTorrent, has Denied that, the Software is Installed without User Consent and Told The Verge "we have reviewed the issue closely and can confirm there is no silent install happening... most likely, the users accepted the offer during the install". I Attempted to Install the Software on my Own PC and Can Confirm that, the Software Gave me the Chance to Decline or Accept the "Offer" -- though, it Could Easily Slip by a Careless User. If it does, Most Antivirus Companies Have Confirmed that, 'Epic Scale' Isn't Dangerous, though it Could Certainly be a Performance-Sapping Nuisance. BitTorrent Said that, the 'Epic Scale' is "a great partner for us to continue to generate revenue for the company, while contributing funds to (philanthropic initiatives)". With the Recent Lenovo SuperFish Affair, however, Users are on Edge about Unwanted Software. One uTorrent Forum User Called 'Epic Scale's' Unexpected Presence "quite a pity", Adding "I will switch because of this".




Info Sources:

http://forum.utorrent.com/topic/95041-warning-epicscale-riskware-silently-installed-with-latest-utorrent

http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/utorrent-silently-installing-bundled-bitcoin-mining-software