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Cryptocurrency investor robbed via his cellphone account sues AT&T for $224M

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11–20 of 137 posts

Re: Cryptocurrency investor robbed via his cellphone account sues AT&T for $224M

#11

I feel for him. But couldn't they reasonably argue they are not a service for securing this kind of thing? If i leave $224m in my car and park it in car park at my local shopping centre are they liable for $224m? I'm not saying they're not liable to some extent.

he lost $24 million

Re: Cryptocurrency investor robbed via his cellphone account sues AT&T for $224M

#12
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's more he parked it at the dealership, and the dealership made a stranger a spare key to get into the car.

Even more analogously in my opinion: someone walked into the dealer, said "hey, transfer the keyless entry for my car to this fob right here" and they did.

Or that someone put out plastic-shell bike lockers, someone had a $224M stolen from one, and now they're pissed.

I suspect that metaphors aren't going to really convey this well.

Re: Cryptocurrency investor robbed via his cellphone account sues AT&T for $224M

#14
I hope he wins, mainly so cell operators will perhaps take security more seriously. Not long ago, I was with T-Mobile. My username was my phone number, and the password, you could request and they'd send it to you in an email. With the climb of social media, our phone numbers are more a part of our identity than ever before, and carriers lack of security is being thrust into the spotlight.

Re: Cryptocurrency investor robbed via his cellphone account sues AT&T for $224M

#15
post #9

I’m not sure if he has any legal recourse against AT&T, but it’s another example why sms based 2FA is a bad security scheme, especially if you’re a high value target.

In the US it is trivial to hijack any mobile number's SMS traffic. It takes less than a minute. SMS as 2FA should never ever be used by anyone.

How does it work? Why is it so easy?

Re: Cryptocurrency investor robbed via his cellphone account sues AT&T for $224M

#16

I feel for him. But couldn't they reasonably argue they are not a service for securing this kind of thing? If i leave $224m in my car and park it in car park at my local shopping centre are they liable for $224m? I'm not saying they're not liable to some extent.

he lost $24 million

>Fund, is seeking $200 million in punitive damages and $24 million of compensatory damages from AT&T.

OK that's even more crazy. I had assumed he lost 224.

Re: Cryptocurrency investor robbed via his cellphone account sues AT&T for $224M

#17
Two things that jump out:

1) $200M in punitive damages? The hack occurred in January, and the price has gone down across all cryptocurrencies substantially since then.

2) Was the password hacked? Or did the exchange allow password resets via SMS? (So negligence made 2fa really 1fa) In this situation it seems AT&T would be at most 50% responsible.

Re: Cryptocurrency investor robbed via his cellphone account sues AT&T for $224M

#19
post #15
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the US it is trivial to hijack any mobile number's SMS traffic. It takes less than a minute. SMS as 2FA should never ever be used by anyone.

How does it work? Why is it so easy?

SMS is not exactly the most secure protocol. But you do not need to use SMS for 2fa, that's a misconception.

Re: Cryptocurrency investor robbed via his cellphone account sues AT&T for $224M

#20

If Bank A makes my PIN number automatically the last 4 of my SSN, and Company B discloses that information, is Company B responsible for 9 times whatever losses I incur if my ATM is stolen?

Sure.. you can sue for whatever you want. There is no guarantee that you will be awarded the damages though.
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