My project 0 this time is more based on something that happens behind the scenes that we don’t see but can encounter without realizing it. Cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, and mining cryptocurrency has become widely popular. I know of it but not too much about it. A basic run down is that it is currency that doesn’t exist, or isn’t at all physical, and isn’t regulated by any government. Computers can “mine” for it by solving equations (or something similar) and using it’s own power to find the currency. Now, when you go to websites, the owners of that website can use your processing power to mine for cryptocurrency. Amazingly smart, I must say, but that sucks as a user. Your computer slows trying to do too many things at once, which may be the first indication that someone is using your computer to mine. The only way I knew this was happening was because I use an chrome extension called Ghostery. Ghostery is really nice (this isn’t sponsored, I promise) and had an article on their website saying their the extension stops websites from using your computer to mine. The Pirate Bay is one of these websites that stated using such techniques to mine. Coinhive is one service that will mine for you on your website.
This software isn’t one that constructs a user to be a certain way, but I think that with it’s stealthy ways, innocent users will blame their own software or hardware on their slow speeds. Users would consider checking everything on their side as wrong, rather than assuming the website is abusing its power. If you think about it, Cryptocurrency is really the thing controlling people, going so far as to steal website users processing power. People are obsessing over something that is so volatile, it could crash at any minute, yet people are willing to spend so much money on equipment for it.