BitTorrent Inc.’s popular torrent software uTorrent is under fire from users after it was discovered that the latest version secretly installs a cryptocurrency miner as part of the package.

The secret miner, named Epic Scale, mines for an altcoin named Litecoin, a competitor to Bitcoin and generally regarded as the second most popular cryptocurrency after Bitcoin itself.

When installed, the mining program hijacks spare computer cycles to mine for Litecoin, both slowing a computer with it installed down, while also using up a users bandwidth at the same time.

One report even goes as far as suggesting that having this software installed could blow up your computer, quoting a section of the Epic Scale’s terms of use:

“You release Epic Scale and its agents … from and against all claims … arising from or related to (i) the use of the Application on your computer, including without limitation any blowouts or other damage to your computer from overheating due to intensive use of graphics cards or chips, or any slowing of your processing speed.”

The software was first discovered by a user who posted details to the uTorrent forum, noting that there is no official warning about it being installed, and further that “it’s easily noticeable by the increased CPU load when the computer is idle.”

An administrator for uTorrent admitted that Epic Scale is now being installed, noting that “a portion of the proceeds from this effort go to philanthropic initiatives.”

“Epic Scale is a great partner for us to continue to generate revenue for the company, while contributing funds to good causes” the administrator added. “In the future, Epic Scale plans to contribute CPU cycles to other initiatives, such as Genome mapping and other academic studies that require a great deal of processing power.”

.

You get what you pay for

It’s easy to condemn BitTorrent (the company) for adding add-ons such as Epic Scale to uTorrent; it’s shady, came without any notification (although you can opt out of installing it during the installation process) and rightfully upsets loyal uTorrent users.

But you do get what you pay for, and in this case users are paying nothing. From toolbar installs through to those more nefarious, adding crapware to free software downloads is pretty much a standard business model for companies who offer closed source software for free. They are entitled to make money, and right or wrong this is how they’re able to develop software and give it away for free. The solution: forgo free software and pay for it instead.

Image credit: btckeychain under CC.