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DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware extortionists Darkside

justice.gov

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Re: DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware extortionists Darkside

#211

Post by coolspot »

blhack wrote: post #150

I think that the people here speculating about the FBI and private keys are greatly overestimating the competency of these hackers. While it's possible this it he FBI flexing some muscle that they have a backdoor into bitcoin's hashing algorithm, what seems much more likely (to me) is: There is a more sophisticated hacking group which created this particular ransomware package. They sell this ransomware package to le…

It is also possible that criminals made themself look stupid and sacrificed a small part (~70 of 310 BTC) of monthly income to throw FBI a bone, so they can fuck off gracefully.

Re: DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware extortionists Darkside

#212

Post by mnouquet »

vmception wrote: post #113
mnouquet wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's utter bs, exchanges generates unique BIP32 addresses for deposit. There isn't a master exchanges key used among all customers.

Which is not something I commented on at all Genuinely curious why you think your response was related or even mutually exclusive

I actually probably commented on the wrong comment :-/

Re: DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware extortionists Darkside

#213

Post by stingraycharles »

onetimemanytime wrote: post #204
wyager wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the FBI has broke any of Secp256k1, SHA256, or RIPE160, (they have not) they’re not going to blow that on a $3M haul.

They might be saving for bigger things, however this is a lot more than $3million. It's about holding the US economy hostage, as these will increase in frequency.

How is this holding the US economy hostage?

Re: DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware extortionists Darkside

#214

Post by [deleted] »

coolspot wrote: post #211
blhack wrote: post #150

I think that the people here speculating about the FBI and private keys are greatly overestimating the competency of these hackers. While it's possible this it he FBI flexing some muscle that they have a backdoor into bitcoin's hashing algorithm, what seems much more likely (to me) is: There is a more sophisticated hacking group which created this particular ransomware package. They sell this ransomware package to le…

It is also possible that criminals made themself look stupid and sacrificed a small part (~70 of 310 BTC) of monthly income to throw FBI a bone, so they can fuck off gracefully.

[deleted]

Re: DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware extortionists Darkside

#215

Post by galaxyLogic »

onetimemanytime wrote: post #204
wyager wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the FBI has broke any of Secp256k1, SHA256, or RIPE160, (they have not) they’re not going to blow that on a $3M haul.

They might be saving for bigger things, however this is a lot more than $3million. It's about holding the US economy hostage, as these will increase in frequency.

Indeed, stopping large-scale oil pipelines means US economy is held hostage, to a degree. Not all of it but some of it. Question is will it increase or not. This FBI action gives us some hope that criminals can be stopped.

Re: DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware extortionists Darkside

#216

Post by galaxyLogic »

Can someone explain simply why it is supposed to be so hard to track ransomware bitcoin payments, if all bitcoin transactions are in a shared public ledger?

If the victim pays someone we know which account it goes to, right? Then we know that account is criminal.

If bitcoins move from that account to other accounts we know that accounts that receive them are essentially "hiding stolen goods". So they are criminal accounts as well.

Then at some point they want to get dollars, and FBI can catch them by following where the dollars were sent. No?

Re: DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware extortionists Darkside

#217

Post by kick_in_the_doo »

stingraycharles wrote: post #213
onetimemanytime wrote: post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They might be saving for bigger things, however this is a lot more than $3million. It's about holding the US economy hostage, as these will increase in frequency.

How is this holding the US economy hostage?

Randomware attacks on energy (oil and potentially electric grid) and hospitals. And that's only what we've seen so far.

Re: DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware extortionists Darkside

#218

Post by yaa_minu »

void_mint wrote: post #194

I was told governments can't get involved in crypto, that's what makes it great? Totally anonymous? Untraceable?

That's not entirely true. Bitcoin is neither anonymous nor untraceable. governments however can't control it. They can only observe what's happening on the chain. Hope that helps.

Re: DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware extortionists Darkside

#219

Post by cdaven »

kick_in_the_doo wrote: post #217
stingraycharles wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is this holding the US economy hostage?

Randomware attacks on energy (oil and potentially electric grid) and hospitals. And that's only what we've seen so far.

"Randomware" sounds much more fun. Like Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, but for software. :-)

Re: DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware extortionists Darkside

#220

Post by lacker »

galaxyLogic wrote: post #216

Can someone explain simply why it is supposed to be so hard to track ransomware bitcoin payments, if all bitcoin transactions are in a shared public ledger? If the victim pays someone we know which account it goes to, right? Then we know that account is criminal. If bitcoins move from that account to other accounts we know that accounts that receive them are essentially "hiding stolen goods". So they are criminal acc…

The FBI doesn't have access to every Bitcoin exchange. There are exchanges in other countries that let you trade anonymously, either into fiat or other cryptocurrencies.
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