Zenedge Blog Mining for Malware: The Hidden Dangers of Bitcoin Apps

Ask the average person on the street what a Bitcoin is, and you’ll get answers ranging from “I have no idea” to comparisons with stocks and panning for gold. Consistent, and at times astonishing surges in value, have kept Bitcoin steadily in the news, leading more and more people to ask themselves how they can get in on the boom. So first off, what is Bitcoin? Bitcoin is a type of cryptocurrency, which is an encrypted data string that denotes a unit of currency. It is supported by a blockchain, a peer-to-peer network which serves as a secure ledger for transactions such as buying, selling, and transferring the currency. There are over five hundred different types of cryptocurrency out there, but Bitcoin has risen above the rest to become the most highly valued and legitimized form.