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Blocklist-Update.sh

Blocklist-Update.sh is a script that I wrote to manage blocklists from bluetack etc to be used in conjunction with Transmission torrent downloader in Linux/MacOS. The script can be taylored to work with Qbittorrent as well, but the placement of the blocklists means you'd have to redirect the blocklist to go somewhere locally manageable as Transmission uses its own blocklist directory in .config. I believe there are about 10 lists there now. It works well for my needs. It can be ran weekly using crontab in standard user profile.  To download:  blocklist-update.sh To download the others:  Github
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BITCOIN MINING: THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY!!!!!

Bitcoin mining is a popular term around the interwebs these days. Bitcoin mining can be a really good thing for people collecting Bitcoins. Mining helps people to become collectors, it helps promote a healthy economy based around Bitcoins. It can cost a bit to get started, but for those wanting to work from home to earn a potentially descent income, it’s a great thing. Bitcoin mining has changed since its inception, with differing computer hardware models hitting the market every couple of years or so, bitcoin mining has adapted its standards. Bitcoin makes intense and good use of system resources, for this reason, it is recommended that miners first buy a new and powerful machine that will last a few years. These machines can cost money, but some miners make the difference in a couple of years. There is good and bad bitcoin mining, but we’ll talk more about that later.

Bitcoin “mining” was called that due to the resemblance of exertion in mines under ground. Bitcoins are mined in fashion to the way in which gold is mined from the ground(only these are mined on the internet). Bitcoins can be used to buy stuff online much like a credit card. Bitcoin prices rise and fall similarly to the Stock Market. In earlier days, Bitcoin mining was a gamble due to the fact that it was so hard to make any earnings in an already large pool of miners. These days, mining can be a really good investment as with the recent onslaught of attacks on websites to make them mine bitcoins, something that they should never do in the first place, the prices will drop for a period of time and so buying into this might be a more apporpriate action at this time. When prices go up, things will get different again. Keep in mind, bitcoin mining is neither good nor bad, but can help you make money.

With all that said, Bitcoin mining has taken a turn for the worst lately. With more and more websites being hijacked to mine coins with specially crafted javascript. Many sites are now blocked in the “nocoin” hosts file found on github and in my hosts file updater script. These aren’t the only domains found to be doing this though, other hosts files are starting to block this nefarious activity too, but with more and more blocking, more and more sites begin to fall prey to this kind of cyber attack. It is hard to keep up with really. These sites are being targeted mainly for their hardware. A server is much more powerful than a desktop client overall. As well, they are also being attacked for their resources. A server somewhere in another part of the world will use a different power grid and so it’s not only hard for site owners to track down these hackers, but the hackers are making a killing off of the other party’s electric bill.

In closing, there is an article that talks about a recent attack of this calibre on thousands of government sites. The article is on the hacker news, link below. It might be something of a job venture to look into now for those with excellent hardware lying around, but it is still somewhat a gamble. As prices rise and fall all the time, the recent stakes make things seemingly lower. Hopefully this will eventually die away as well and prices will skyrocket. For now, if you’re looking for a site to help you get started mining there is genesis mining. I’m no expert on their tactics and how they operate, so don’t blame me if they jip you. They are just a site I found that tells a little about the industry they are a part of and there are others. Don’t tie yourself into one place, look around, do your research.


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