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Another Ransomware Outbreak Is Going Global

forbes.com

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Re: Another Ransomware Outbreak Is Going Global

#111

Post by raw23 »

the_cat_kittles wrote: post #101

i said this before and it was met with mostly hostility, but im still wondering... bitcoin has enabled ransomware, so its a boon to crooks. what has it done for non-crooks? i dont mean conceptually (no fed! decentralized! etc. etc.), i mean since its come into being, what has it done for you personally? for me: i bought a vpn subscription, anonymously. probably not able to do that as easily without btc. but, i would…

Bitcoin is a neutral technology, think of it like cash. Buying illegal things is always done with cash but it doesn't mean we should get rid of cash altogether.

Regardless even if we came to the collective decision that we wanted to get rid of bitcoin, its not feasible due to its decentralized nature.

Re: Another Ransomware Outbreak Is Going Global

#113

Post by the_cat_kittles »

scottLobster wrote: post #109
the_cat_kittles wrote: post #101

i said this before and it was met with mostly hostility, but im still wondering... bitcoin has enabled ransomware, so its a boon to crooks. what has it done for non-crooks? i dont mean conceptually (no fed! decentralized! etc. etc.), i mean since its come into being, what has it done for you personally? for me: i bought a vpn subscription, anonymously. probably not able to do that as easily without btc. but, i would…

Depends on where you live. I doubt you'd have faced any repercussions for buying that VPN subscription with your credit card, but the governments of other countries might not be so understanding. Bitcoin should exist for the same reasons Tor exists. Just because Tor is used by child predators and of little practical use to the average Western citizen doesn't negate its positive value.

"Just because Tor is used by child predators and of little practical use to the average Western citizen doesn't negate its positive value."

you cant just say that and expect me to decide its worth it on balance, you need to make a case for it. maybe this isnt the place, but its a funny thing to just kind of assert. arguing that things should exist because there are potential upsides is missing the point, which is that the downsides may outweigh the upsides. its particularly bold to make that claim about tor- there must be a hell of an upside to justify the child predators...

Re: Another Ransomware Outbreak Is Going Global

#114

Post by samstave »

spacemanmatt wrote: post #82
rsync wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Actually, every single Windows PC with an internet connection that has been used before March 14 should be considered irrevocably compromised." March 14 of what year ? I would say 2000 but I am open to discussion ...

I sent my first packet-of-death to an unprotected Windows machine in 1996, so...

1997 here :-)

hat was that XP xploit app from back then... I cant recall what it was called...

Re: Another Ransomware Outbreak Is Going Global

#115

Post by the_cat_kittles »

raw23 wrote: post #111
the_cat_kittles wrote: post #101

i said this before and it was met with mostly hostility, but im still wondering... bitcoin has enabled ransomware, so its a boon to crooks. what has it done for non-crooks? i dont mean conceptually (no fed! decentralized! etc. etc.), i mean since its come into being, what has it done for you personally? for me: i bought a vpn subscription, anonymously. probably not able to do that as easily without btc. but, i would…

Bitcoin is a neutral technology, think of it like cash. Buying illegal things is always done with cash but it doesn't mean we should get rid of cash altogether. Regardless even if we came to the collective decision that we wanted to get rid of bitcoin, its not feasible due to its decentralized nature.

yes i agree its not going away. but im curious if public perception has shifted at all since it was first becoming popular. my opinion has changed.

Re: Another Ransomware Outbreak Is Going Global

#116

Post by [deleted] »

zippoxer wrote: post #80
spiderfarmer wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Call me paranoid but I consider even a clean, freshly installed and fully updated Windows PC already compromised by the NSA.

Distrusting Windows was the wisest thing you did since you climbed off your horse. [1] No, seriously. How is it paranoia to think the NSA was/is surveilling your Windows installation if we already have proof that they have the means [2] and motivation [3] to do it at scale? [1] http://www.quotes.net/show-quote/34121 [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EternalBlue [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRISM_(surveillance_pr…

[deleted]

Re: Another Ransomware Outbreak Is Going Global

#119

Post by jpttsn »

the_cat_kittles wrote: post #101

i said this before and it was met with mostly hostility, but im still wondering... bitcoin has enabled ransomware, so its a boon to crooks. what has it done for non-crooks? i dont mean conceptually (no fed! decentralized! etc. etc.), i mean since its come into being, what has it done for you personally? for me: i bought a vpn subscription, anonymously. probably not able to do that as easily without btc. but, i would…

Bitcoin hasn't enabled ransomware. There was ransomware before.

Re: Another Ransomware Outbreak Is Going Global

#120

Post by 001spartan »

willstrafach wrote: post #96
jannes wrote: post #50

This is even more proof how powerful a 0-day in the wrong hands can be. All of the affected companies' should be considered compromised by the NSA. Actually, every single Windows PC with an internet connection that has been used before March 14 should be considered irrevocably compromised. Ransomware is much more visible than spyware. Think about all the spyware-infected PCs/networks that nobody knows about.

It looks like this was not caused by a 0-day, it is apparently using EternalBlue as execution vector plus another (already fixed) vulnerability for lateral movement. More of a "100-day" at this point.

It also appears to be using common Windows lateral movement techniques based on credential stealing (namely WMI and PsExec), in addition to EternalBlue.
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