A mining pool is a collective group of computers that work together to mine cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, by combining their processing power. This collaboration increases the chances of successfully solving cryptographic puzzles and earning rewards, which are then distributed among pool members based on their contribution. Mining pools make it possible for individuals with less powerful hardware to participate in mining and receive more consistent payouts. However, they are sometimes targeted by cybercriminals using cryptojacking techniques to exploit their resources for illicit mining.