Apple Seems OK With Currency Miners In the Mac App Store

Apple has yet to block a popular title in the Mac App Store that has openly embraced coin mining, prompting one to ask the question: does Apple allow apps in the Mac App Store if they clearly disclose that they will be mining cryptocurrency? Ars Technica reports: The app is Calendar 2, a scheduling app that aims to include more features than the Calendar app that Apple bundles with macOS. In recent days, Calendar 2 developer Qbix endowed it with code that mines the digital coin known as Monero. The xmr-stack miner isn't supposed to run unless users specifically approve it in a dialog that says the mining will be in exchange for turning on a set of premium features. If users approve the arrangement, the miner will then run. Users can bypass this default action by selecting an option to keep the premium features turned off or to pay a fee to turn on the premium features. If Calendar 2 isn't the first known app offered in Apple's official and highly exclusive App Store to do currency mining, it's one of the very few.

Comments

The beginning of the end

[Anonymous Coward]

Well internet, you had a good run.

Re:That makes sense

[angel'o'sphere]

My iPhone is 6 years old, so is my iPad ...
NEXT troll!

How does Apple get their cut?

[Anonymous Coward]

Apple wants a cut of money made with apps distributed in their store. Are they taking a cut of the Monero mined by this app?

Re:How does Apple get their cut?

[TheRaven64]

It's the Mac app store, not the iOS app store. I'm sure both users of the store are going to be very happy with this decision, but I doubt that it will impact Apple's revenue much...

Its still your computer

[AHuxley]

So an app can be sold and created to do calculations.
What the computer owner then does with the calculation results in their own nation is top to them.
When a computer maker and OS brand starts to set limits on what a CPU and GPU can be used for after buying a computer?
Time to find a computer company that respects the freedom to use a computer.

Re:Its still your computer

[supremebob]

I can still see this being a problem, though, as it will make scanning other "free" software on the Mac App Store for embedded crypto miners more difficult.

Basically, they just made "Oh, yeah, that's a feature" a valid excuse for failing that part of the malware scan.

So where's the 30% Apple cut (tax)

[Sebby]

Apple is adamant on making sure it gets paid 30% for anything that is 'paid' on the app store - either direct purchase of an app, or of its in-app purchases or subscriptions.

Given this, I don't see this type of arrangement lasting.

Lockout chip since 1985

[tepples]

When a computer maker and OS brand starts to set limits on what a CPU and GPU can be used for after buying a computer?

That ship sailed in 1985 with the lockout chips in the Nintendo Entertainment System and Atari 7800 ProSystem.

Re:Lockout chip since 1985

[AHuxley]

Its nice that a brand still allows apps the user "approves" to be installed.

Re:Lockout chip since 1985

[Opportunist]

Which one asks for my approval to install their crapware? Not my phone, which comes preloaded with crap you can't remove. Not Windows 10 that not only comes preloaded with useless junk you can't remove but also reinstalls it for your convenience should for some reason you accidentally pry them out of the system.

What's left? Linux? Is there still a distri without systemd?

A replacement for ads

[Tyrannosaur]

That asks the user first. I am 100% ok with that. Bonus points if I can tell it to run only when my phone is plugged in to charge.

We need replacements for intrusive and dangerous ads, and cryptocurrency mining is a good initial drop-in replacement. I hope other ad replacements happen as well.

Re:A replacement for ads

[vux984]

"That asks the user first. I am 100% ok with that. Bonus points if I can tell it to run only when my phone is plugged in to charge."

Your phone isn't going to charge very vast if the CPU is pinned at 100%. It's also going to be running super hot.

"I hope other ad replacements happen as well."

Their are already 2 great options:
1) Free Open Source options (f-droid!!) Not really an option on iOS... which is the main reason i don't use iOS.

2) "paying for the app"; with or without free-trial / limited shareware version. I'm pretty happy with this as well.

Sadly with too many apps that's not an option, they'd rather leech off me in some way. Whether its ads or mining crypto currency or harvesting data... or all three.

Re:A replacement for ads

[vux984]

"Bonus points if I can tell it to run only when my phone is plugged in to charge."

And what happens when you have 2 apps, or 4 apps, or 12 apps or 20 apps that use this model? They still going to be happy with 1/20th ?

I mean, i guess if you are going to embrace this nonsense, you might as well go all in right? And install a miner that mines currency for yourself, and set that one to have priority over all the other ones. Your other 20 apps can divide 1% of the cpu between them... if nothing else it'd be a good way to kill this business model off.

Re:A replacement for ads

[DontBeAMoran]

If I had access to 0.0005% of the combined mining power of only 10% of the iPhones, iPads and Macs out there, I'd become a millionaire every week, maybe even every day.

Re:A replacement for ads

[vux984]

" only 10% of the iPhones"

You're figuring getting what? 1 billion downloads? You think you have a chance of hitting that?

And if you do, 0.0005% of their mining power is equivalent to 5,000 devices. You think 5000 devices ranging from new macbook pros to 8 year old ipads and iphone 4's is going to net you a million bucks a week? You'll pick up maybe $10- 20,000 per month. Still pretty impressive but a long way from your millions per day. (An iphone X mining 24x7 will net you around $13/mo.* And the majority of your devices will be a lot less than that.

(And again, if you've got any property with 1 billion plus downloads, you've already hit the jackpot beyond all but the most popular apps/preinstalled apps wildest dreams. And can probably monetize it other ways for far far FAR more revenue.)

* https://9to5mac.com/2017/12/21...

(and this article was written during the cryptocurrency spike over christmas; it's come down quite a bit since then.)

Re:A replacement for ads

[tlhIngan]

Your phone isn't going to charge very vast if the CPU is pinned at 100%. It's also going to be running super hot.

It's amazing (not just you) how it seems everyone on /. wants people to learn how to use computers, yet they can't seem to read.

The app is on the Mac App Store. As it it affects Mac apps, not iOS apps.

And the app discloses it does this so the user is well aware. And the user has many choices - they could opt for the free version features only, the premium features for free (using the miner), or pay for the premium features without the miner.

In other words, it's a well-behaved app. If you don't need premium features, you pick Free mode. If you want to pay for it and not run down your battery, or you don't want mining, you can pay. If you're too cheap, you hcan have that option too. And unless you actually pay and unlock the premium forever, you get to choose freely.

Re:A replacement for ads

[Opportunist]

As if users can make an informed decision. You want to bet that it will be squeezed in between layers and layers of legalese and technobabble that no sane person can decipher without a degree in computer science?

And do you want to bet that it's going to be deliberately obfuscated to the point where nobody understands it?

Re:A replacement for ads

[Parker Lewis]

Yes, fine until most of the free applications start doing the same and your CPU/battery will be depleted due this.

Re:A replacement for ads

[ripvlan]

This seems totally okay with me. Give the user a choice: pay, view ads, or mine crypto. Seems above board.

The drain on the economy in the sucking of power will be interesting. But if users plugin at free charging stations - then it seems like a good deal.

Of course does the Mac suffer from the software controlled iOS battery life issues?

Re:A replacement for ads

[Falconnan]

Let's evaluate:

1. You can go with free and no mining, you get free limited features
2. You can accept ads, you get premium features (or a subset)
3. You accept mining, you get premium features (or a subset)
4. You purchase the app or a subscription, you get the features purchased

As long as there is a specific opt-in, and it links to the affects on your device when in use, I don't see the problem, as long as we can get some rules of the road on the usage of these options. Once established, as long as the rules are followed I think this is pretty valid.

Re:That makes sense

[Locke2005]

Have you replaced the battery yet? I was given an old iMac at work that was impossible to use due to overheating problems; I assume they've since fixed the issue. The ARM-based Apple equipment doesn't appear to have overheating problems; just battery life problems. You pay a 20% premium for Apple, but their support is much better. Also, I buy all Apple hardware for my daughter, and Windows/Android hardware for myself.

Be fair to Apple

[Jason1729]

It's not Apple's fault, they've got more important things to focus on than the integrity of their App store.

Like their new knock off of Bob's Burgers, more watch bands, promoting Hip Hop, and bragging about Timmy's clogged pipeline. They can't do all that and run a pesky app store too.

Re: That makes sense

[DontBeAMoran]

iPhone 4 here. You lose.

p.s. to the potential reply, I also have an iPhone 3GS. You still lose.

Re: That makes sense

[ceoyoyo]

I've got a 3G. What do I win?

Re: That makes sense

[DontBeAMoran]

You win "user of the oldest iPhone in this thread" trophy.

Re:That makes sense

[angel'o'sphere]

Actually I "let the battery be replaced" ... makes no sense to fiddle 2h myself when I can give it in a shop and get it back in 20 minutes. However I let it be done in Thailand for about $13 or $15 ... in Germany it would have cost 3x as much. The only other good option is Paris ... plenty of Chinese tinkerer shops, it would probably cost about $20 there.