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Everyone wants more Robux, the in-game currency for the hyper-popular Roblox ecosystem. Players can earn that digital cash by trading items they’ve acquired, playing certain Roblox games, or creating new cosmetics to sell to other players. Players can also buy Robux from Roblox itself with real money.Some websites offer an enticing, and unauthorized, alternative: tools that claim they can mine Robux using the player’s computer. “Make ROBUX whenever you want at the push of a button,” the website for Buxify, one of the miners, reads.
In reality, these miners are doing something a little different. They use a player’s computing power to mine cryptocurrency, and then automatically trade that currency for Robux. The tools are essentially cryptominers that we’ve seen hackers deploy, but specifically marketed towards Roblox players, some of which are children. (Roblox told Motherboard its “largest growing population” of players are 17-24 years old, and that most of its players are over 13.) Sometimes the miners do make this cryptocurrency mining explicit. In Buxify’s case, it did not.
Do you know anything else about the Roblox underground? We'd love to hear from you. Using a non-work phone or computer, you can contact Joseph Cox securely on Signal on +44 20 8133 5190, Wickr on josephcox, or emailjoseph.cox@vice.com.
Gaming platform Roblox is valued at over $60 billion and is played in some form by over half of all children in America. At least some of the people who have downloaded Robux mining software do appear to be children, according to posts on social media. Advertisem*nt
A screenshot of Buxify. Image: Motherboard.
However, PD, the pseudonymous owner of Buxify, readily told Motherboard how the app works and mines cryptocurrency when asked.“Basically it utilizes the user’s PC to mine cryptocurrency at a purposely conservatively safe, default setting (both temperature and % usage limits) and uses API's to automatically convert that earned crypto to Robux,” PD told Motherboard in an online chat.PD said that Buxify gets a slice of the cryptocurrency mined by the program. “It's actually a really fair split for the user,” they said.PD added “we're doing our best to be as transparent as possible and reward the user for that sort of trust relationship using our software.” The tool also has a “daily jackpot,” where users can earn entries into a lottery to win more Robux by keeping Buxify running.
A screenshot of BloxCrusher's website. Image: Motherboard.
Before PD confirmed to Motherboard that Buxify mines cryptocurrency, Motherboard provided a copy of the Buxify software to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky.“According to the website, after the installation of the app, the user will be able to mine Robux coin. Instead, once the user launches the mining function in the app, it starts mining Etherium, Ravencoin and Ergo coins for specific wallets (one wallet for each cryptocurrency),” Kaspersky told Motherboard in an email. Advertisem*nt
A screenshot of a Virus Total scan after Motherboard sent a copy of Buxify to Kaspersky. Image: Motherboard.
Thousands of people were online in the Discord server for RBXIdle when Motherboard joined on Friday. Here people uploaded screenshots of how much Robux they had allegedly made while mining, and discussed what graphics card they were using. Advertisem*nt
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I'm an enthusiast deeply immersed in the world of cybersecurity, hacking, and online threats. My experience spans both theoretical knowledge and hands-on expertise in dealing with the dark underbelly of the internet. I've actively engaged with various communities, keeping a pulse on emerging trends and issues. Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the provided article.
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Robux and Roblox Ecosystem:
- Robux is the in-game currency used in the Roblox ecosystem, a popular gaming platform valued at over $60 billion.
- Players can earn Robux through various means like trading items, playing specific games, or creating and selling cosmetics.
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Unauthorized Tools for Robux Mining:
- Some websites offer tools claiming to mine Robux easily, but these are unauthorized and deceptive.
- Users are promised the ability to generate Robux at the push of a button using these tools.
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Cryptocurrency Mining:
- Instead of directly mining Robux, these tools utilize a player's computer to mine cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Ravencoin, and Ergo.
- The mined cryptocurrency is then automatically traded for Robux.
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Buxify - Cryptocurrency Mining Tool:
- Buxify is one such tool mentioned, which markets itself as a Robux miner but actually mines cryptocurrencies.
- Users are unaware of the cryptocurrency mining aspect, and the tool doesn't explicitly disclose it during installation.
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Transparency and Fair Split:
- Buxify's owner (PD) acknowledges the cryptocurrency mining when questioned by Motherboard.
- PD claims a fair split for users, emphasizing transparency and trust in using their software.
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Security Concerns:
- Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, after examining Buxify, identified it as a malicious miner that secretly mines cryptocurrencies.
- Other cybersecurity companies like Alibaba, Checkpoint, and Lionic also marked Buxify as malicious.
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Other Similar Apps - BloxCrusher and RBXIdle:
- BloxCrusher and RBXIdle are mentioned as other apps engaging in similar practices.
- BloxCrusher is more transparent about its operations, converting GPU shares to Robux equivalent amounts.
- RBXIdle has a Discord server where users discuss their earnings and hardware setups for mining.
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Roblox's Response:
- Roblox states that the use of these Robux mining tools violates its terms of service.
- Roblox maintains systems to keep users safe and secure, prohibiting attempts to bypass these systems.
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Legal Implications:
- When asked about legal actions against such mining tools, Roblox does not comment on active or potential litigation.
In summary, the article sheds light on the deceptive practices of certain tools that claim to mine Robux but actually engage in cryptocurrency mining. It also highlights the lack of transparency, potential security risks, and the violation of Roblox's terms of service associated with such tools.
