With every advance there'll come along a new scumbag to exploit it. I have to say though, if I had the choice between a virus messing with my machine and a miner slowing it down just the right amount that I could hardly notice the attack, I'd have to choose the latter. My laptop is a pretty modern i7 that I use to watch football / movies on occasionally, at most.

Of course, it doesn't make it right what they get up to. It just feels a little more 'victimless' and tolerable.

Will a good firewall keep them at bay, still? (I use zonealarm - the free version). How about good browsing habits?

Interesting post and one more thing to worry about at night. :)