Little introduction
CryptoCurrencies are virtual currencies. A lot of these currencies need work to be done to safe transactions to the database, this is called mining.
As a miner you use a lot of CPU or GPU power and in return you gain a bit of money.
Some week(s) ago, the CryptoCurrency "Monero" released a browser-based JavaScript framework for mining the Monero currency.
So instead of configuring command line tools and download a blockchain (which can get huge) you just open your browser and there you go.
This framework is also meant to replace ad's, promising a less intrusive and more useful meaning.
Now where's the scam?
I just found a website about a fan movie project in the StarTrek universe. A website which you would not relate to mining cryptocurrencies and this website has a lot of blog posts and news which can use hours of your time to read. It also uses this mining framework and scales it up to 11. It does take 100% CPU power and makes the browser more or less unusable, as well as every other app you are running.
The framework allows you to throttle the CPU usage, you can easly set it to only use 10% or 20% and if they would have done that, probably no one would find out so easly.
This website is called axanarproductions.com . You can visit it and open your Task Manager to see your performance and be blown away how bad they integrated their greedy money machine.
My opinion
In my humble opinion, this is very grey-ish and should be debated. Sure, Ad's are often dangerous and can infest your computer with malware, just by showing you an ad.
The monero mining framework is safe, in this manner. But, it uses your CPU power and your electricity to gather money *for someone else*. You pay, they gain. Does not sound very fair.
Ad's on the other side, even if they can be harmful, usually don't cost you money.
Conclusion
This should not happen. Usually, you setup such cost intensive tools (regarding electricity and "wear and tear") yourselve and you gain a little bit of money for it, or opt-in completly freely and share your power for free (See BOINC / SETI@Home).
But again, with this mining framework you pay and someone else makes money with it.
What do you think about this ?