Microsoft bans crypto mining from its online services

Recently, we’ve seen even more people hop on the crypto mining craze with one end goal, earning some cash. To those unfamiliar with the phenomenon, it is the process of creating new bitcoins by solving complicated math problems verifying transactions in the currency.

And now, Microsoft has restricted crypto mining using Azure and all its online services, effective December 1. The company stated that the move was geared towards enhancing the security of its customers’ cloud accounts.
Microsoft quietly updated its Universal License Terms for Online Services citing the new ban on crypto currency mining. According to the new update, “Neither Customer, nor those that access an Online Service through Customer, may use an Online Service: to mine cryptocurrency without Microsoft’s prior written approval.”

The company further stated in one of its forums titled Important actions partners need to take to secure the partner ecosystem that:

The Acceptable Use Policy has been updated to explicitly prohibit mining for cryptocurrencies across all Microsoft Online Services unless written pre-approval is granted by Microsoft. We suggest seeking written pre-approval from Microsoft before using Microsoft Online Services for mining cryptocurrencies, regardless of the term of a subscription.

Talking to The Register, Microsoft highlighted that the move was geared towards enhancing security for its cloud services and that crypto currency mining can cause “disruption or even impairment to Online Services and its users and can often be linked to cyber fraud and abuse attacks such as unauthorized access to and use of customer resources”.

That said, you’ll now need Microsoft’s prior written approval to mine crypto currency using its online services, but there’s also a catch. The company will only give you approval for testing and research for security detections.

Via: The Register