http://shopping.yahoo.com/blogs/dig...oins-crypotlocker-virus-attack-183520470.html CryptoLocker was covered in depth on 7:30 report last week, although they didn't mention bitcoins once.
If you are pro bitcoin you should hope they dont mention them... it is criminal activities like this that will draw negative government attention to bitcoin.
This is an extremely good reason for authorities to outlaw crypto-currencies All you need is a high profile kidnapping with the ransom demanded in bitcoins
I'm pro information. I think they should have covered the bitcoin aspect as it was quite integral to the subject. I'm more worried by the ABC's failings than what the government thinks of bitcoin. Trew, it's not a kidnapping, but there has been one high profile ransom case earlier this year: http://www.dailydot.com/crime/mitt-romney-bitcoin-blackmail-suspect-charged/
yet when criminals demand their ransom in cash this is not negative for fiat?? I sense a double standard here
Where did the massachesschuettces police get that many bitcoins? paying randsomes just encourages the randsomers.
Wow I just read about another ransom thing happening now. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hack...7-Million-Israeli-Bank-Customers-410835.shtml They weren't lying when they called this a disruptive technology. :/
The issue is not the fiat per se but the risk involved in getting their hands on the ransom. Criminals could ask for a suitcase full of cash, gold, platinum or US govt bonds - doesn't matter. In order to actually collect the ransom the criminals have to arrange some form of physical delivery mechanism. Obviously there is the risk of the police staking out the delivery location or tracking the location of the loot. With bitcoins the criminals can be in another country and demand transfer to a wallet that can not be traced. No risk whatsoever.
A few people (disgruntled druggies I presume) on reddit tracked down the stolen funds from when the sheep drug site got 'robbed' and publicised the address (this is after an elaborate laundering process) so I think the gubbmint could monitor those funds and when they moved to an exchange, subpoena the exchange for the users real life details. http://www.reddit.com/r/SheepMarket...ust_chased_him_through_a_bitcoin_tumbler_and/ It seems to me like cashing out a ransom sized amount would be very difficult.
What this should actually read as is idiots didn't back up their data. This is the IT equivalent of going out and leaving your door unlocked and the oven on
Exactly. Cryptolocker isn't hard to find, nor isolate on a network. Thus, even if your first line defences get compromised, it's no big deal to locate, isolate and contain. If your backup isn't up to snuff, however, that's where the real problem strikes - you need to be able to lay your hands on a backup & restore data easily and smoothly.
