Privacy-focused cryptocurrency network Monero (XMR) has released a significant update aimed at improving security against malicious “spy nodes.”
This release, called “CLI v0.18.4.3 Fluorine Fermi,” includes new defense mechanisms against malicious nodes that threaten Monero’s network privacy.
Monero recently suffered a 51% attack from one of its own miners.
In the Monero community, “spy node” is a term used for malicious nodes, or botnets, that can link IP addresses to transaction information. Such nodes can weaken the network’s anonymity. The new “Fermi” update introduces an improved node selection algorithm that reduces the likelihood of users connecting to multiple nodes connected to the same IP subnet. This way, users are directed to safer nodes, avoiding suspicious IP clusters.
The update also makes changes to Monero’s email service, restructuring who and how emails are sent, making it virtually impossible for messages to be tracked or their delivery paths to be followed by spy nodes.
Monero developers state that the “Fluorine Fermi” update takes privacy and security standards a step further.
*This is not investment advice.