BEWARE: uTorrent Update Installs Bitcoin Mining Software

uTorrent is secretly installing Epic Scale Bitcoin Mining Software on user’ computer to get some bucks – They claim it’s a distributed computing platform, but that’s not true.
When you hear the word uTorrent it should remind you of piracy, downloading movies, music or books, but today the popular BitTorrent client uTorrent is in news for some other reason and it’s not good.
It started on Thursday, when users started reporting how uTorrent secretly installed a cryptocurrency mining software called Epic Scale in its version 3.4.2 build 28913. 

Epic Scale is a Bitcoin miner that purports to use your ‘unused processing power to change the world. That means the uTorrent is trying to get some bucks by using your computer processor, according to Cyber Security Squad.

One of the user going with the handle of ‘Groundrunner’ was the first one to notice the mysterious software installation and reported it to uTorrent forum.

“When I updated uTorrent to version 3.4.2 build 28913 (32-bit) this morning it silently installed a piece of software called EpicScale. There was no information about this during installation and I did opt out of your other bundled software.”

He then further explained what EpicScale actually is and how easily it is to noticeable by the increased CPU load:

EpicScale is a bitcoin miner that also purports to use your “unused processing power to change the world”. It’s easily noticeable by the increased CPU load when the computer is idle.”

Another user ‘Adrenelized’ said there was never any warning when he was installing uTorrent, despite the fact he had installed a fresh copy.

There was never a warning about it – and it started throwing errors about “could not reach server” over and over again. uTorrent should be ashamed for partnering with these idiots. 

uTorrent at the other hand denies doing anything illegal or secret. The company told Verge that:

“We can confirm there is no silent install happening… Most likely these users accepted the offer during install.” 

uTorrent is indeed right about ”users accepting the offer during installation, but the window that popups during installing uTorrent lies about Epic Scale Cryptocurrency mining software by describing it as a ‘distributed computing platform‘ that perform ‘computation‘ only and asking users to ‘Join us to help support organisation working to cure AIDS‘ by donating our system resources.

Here is a screenshot showing Epic Scale is just a ‘distributed computing platform':

Is it a problem?

Yes it is, a running Cryptocurrency mining software in your computer takes more CPU usage than it normally would, it makes the computer slow, hanging browser, increase of electricity bills and last but not the least we are sure no one would like their systems to be used as a Bitcoin mining machine.
Developing…