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A Power Analysis of Cryptocurrency Mining: A Mobile Device Perspective

  • SUNY Buffalo

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

We investigate the impact of how a cryptocurrency mining system can affect the power consumption of mobile devices. Specifically we look at CoinHive, a cryptocurrency miner and associated mining pool targeting the Monero (XMR) cryptocurrency. CoinHive distributes a JavaScript-based miner to webpages where visitors run the script and provide computing power to the web host's CoinHive account. Ideally, hosting JavaScript-based cryptocurrency miners provides alternatives to using ad-networks as a source of website revenue. While some users may not oppose an energy for advertisement trade-off, it may be less palatable to mobile users concerned with battery life. Our initial studies have revealed that, at a minimum, running the normally distributed JavaScript-based miner increases the power draw of a Samsung Galaxy S4 by about 5 fold. Under certain circumstances, the power draw can increase to eleven-fold. We illustrate these findings by comparing them with various normal use benchmarks and with a variety of different ad-enabled webpages.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication2018 16th Annual Conference on Privacy, Security and Trust, PST 2018
EditorsRobert H. Deng, Stephen Marsh, Jason Nurse, Rongxing Lu, Sakir Sezer, Paul Miller, Liqun Chen, Kieran McLaughlin, Ali Ghorbani
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781538674932
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 29 2018
Event16th Annual Conference on Privacy, Security and Trust, PST 2018 - Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Duration: Aug 28 2018Aug 30 2018

Publication series

Name2018 16th Annual Conference on Privacy, Security and Trust, PST 2018

Conference

Conference16th Annual Conference on Privacy, Security and Trust, PST 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityBelfast, Northern Ireland
Period08/28/1808/30/18

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