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Topic: Bitcoin and the Ransomware problem? (Read 2838 times)

sr. member
Activity: 318
Merit: 260
January 07, 2017, 09:06:36 PM
#27
Most ransomware is installed from things you willingly download and install.. The people behind them aren't intelligent enough to do something like a Chrome sandbox escape..


Yeah ransomware has nothing to do with bitcoin.. More like stupid users and the anti-virus industry ran by people not much smarter.. The "attacks" are mostly basic social engineering and primitive malware that just keeps private keys on a server with HWID.. Most I've seen were even very short .NET programs..
sr. member
Activity: 434
Merit: 250
January 06, 2017, 01:49:59 PM
#26
First of all is not a bitcoin problem.

Second, if you really are worried about your bitcoins, I think anyone here living in developed western countries can afford to buy a ledger cheap hardware wallet, this way the Ransomware cannot do anything to you if you don't have other important data in your PC. Just make a format and start with all your bitcoins in place again thanks to the hardware wallet.

As others have already said. It is very much recommended to back up all your data, including bitcoin wallet.dat if you have any.
Also if you have electrum wallet and have safeguarded the seed in few other places rather than your PC you can restore from the seed after you reformat your HDD.

Still ransomware is a very nasty thing.

Exactly. Offline wallet = no possibility of ransomware.
legendary
Activity: 910
Merit: 1000
January 06, 2017, 01:09:51 PM
#25
First of all is not a bitcoin problem.

Second, if you really are worried about your bitcoins, I think anyone here living in developed western countries can afford to buy a ledger cheap hardware wallet, this way the Ransomware cannot do anything to you if you don't have other important data in your PC. Just make a format and start with all your bitcoins in place again thanks to the hardware wallet.

As others have already said. It is very much recommended to back up all your data, including bitcoin wallet.dat if you have any.
Also if you have electrum wallet and have safeguarded the seed in few other places rather than your PC you can restore from the seed after you reformat your HDD.

Still ransomware is a very nasty thing.
newbie
Activity: 18
Merit: 0
January 05, 2017, 02:13:54 PM
#24
As the growing popularity of bitcoin it is very hard to control the ransomeware problem because therr are soo many people who want quick money doesn't matter how they will get it? As bitcoin has an opensource connection archietecture & also it is publicly design therefore the problem are arised. As bitcoin is a crytocurrency then the authority they provided to the user......the user will have there private key to encrypt or decrypt the connection.....so there have to be more amedments that have to be done on bitcoin.
newbie
Activity: 28
Merit: 11
January 05, 2017, 01:17:54 PM
#23
Yeah, this really isn't a Bitcoin problem.

Just don't install ransomware and if you have really important data you have to have a backup - not just because of ransomware, loss of data is always possible.
legendary
Activity: 1232
Merit: 1030
give me your cryptos
January 05, 2017, 12:23:11 AM
#22
Oh my god, the sun can burn your retinas, but the sun isn't a weapon.
Paper can give you cuts, but it's not a weapon.
The internet allows cyberweapons to exist, but the internet isn't a weapon.

Some criminals like bitcoin, so what? It's a scam?
hero member
Activity: 551
Merit: 500
January 05, 2017, 12:08:44 AM
#21
Possibly there's no way to resolve this, or at least no good ways. One possibility is to have a centralized place, where it has bitcoin's checkpoint private key, and somehow exclude that particular tx from being used. That is, its tx output can not be spent. This will require significant changes in the bitcoin code though.
sr. member
Activity: 434
Merit: 250
January 04, 2017, 11:47:37 PM
#20
What can be done to the ransomware problem?
I think Bitcoin is the seed that grown into the ransomware problem. What can be done to protect users?

My tought was some sort of list of "dishonest" adresses, like what have been discussed with stolen money, but that would not work in this case due to the possibility to create one adress per victim, as opposed to bitcoin theft where there is a few adresses involved where the money was stolen from (the victim).

Any ideas how bitcoin could be adapted to make it "toxic" to ransomware authors, while not burning legit users?


My second tought was some "Vote To Refund" scheme, applying to any transaction, but the problem would be that people could spread false screenshots of ransomware just to get free services/products.
Go brainstorm about ideas on how to prevent ransomware on bitcoin's end.

What can be done to protect users? Don't install ransomware. If you infect yourself with ransomware you now have many other problems to deal with than just your bitcoin wallet such as any saved website usernames/passwords, sensitive documents on your hard drive, the possibility of infecting your whole network, etc.

I think an emphasis on good security practices should be a required step to installing any bitcoin wallet. I believe BitPay's wallet does this well. When you first install their software and create your first bitcoin wallet there are a few slides you have to click through that emphasis how important security really is.
full member
Activity: 126
Merit: 100
January 04, 2017, 11:05:50 PM
#19
What can be done to the ransomware problem?
I think Bitcoin is the seed that grown into the ransomware problem.


i made bitcoin address and learn about bitcoin because cerber3 ransomware hit me couple month ago, and they only want payment using bitcoin with 5 address of it. But after read some post above about ransomware existed before bitcoin, i just stop thinking about bitcoin making some criminal made ransomware. thanks for your information Wink
sr. member
Activity: 812
Merit: 252
December 11, 2016, 07:16:30 AM
#18
The problem of the ransomware is not the fault of bitcoin, you will see the headline in the news and people who read it could have a negative view or bad judgment. The criminal activities have always existed and will continue to be, the bitcoin network will not make a difference. Also, the criminals can make the same thing with fiat currency and ask money in return.

The best is to try to apply always the latest security and take security seriously.
hero member
Activity: 2814
Merit: 734
Bitcoin is GOD
December 07, 2016, 02:34:08 PM
#17
What can be done to the ransomware problem?
I think Bitcoin is the seed that grown into the ransomware problem. What can be done to protect users?

My tought was some sort of list of "dishonest" adresses, like what have been discussed with stolen money, but that would not work in this case due to the possibility to create one adress per victim, as opposed to bitcoin theft where there is a few adresses involved where the money was stolen from (the victim).

Any ideas how bitcoin could be adapted to make it "toxic" to ransomware authors, while not burning legit users?


My second tought was some "Vote To Refund" scheme, applying to any transaction, but the problem would be that people could spread false screenshots of ransomware just to get free services/products.
Go brainstorm about ideas on how to prevent ransomware on bitcoin's end.
Use any kind of linux distribution, Linux has come to a point where it has become very easy to use unlike the past, if you still need to use some Windows programs you could use Wine or use another partition with Windows installed and keep your programs that you really need to run on Windows there.
legendary
Activity: 1736
Merit: 1023
December 07, 2016, 01:17:11 PM
#16
Bitcoin is often used in the ransomware attacks because it is a more anonymous form of payment so it makes it harder to track the identities of the criminals running these attacks. This could happen with any other form of currency such as cash as well and I think its just a common misconception that people equate bitcoin as being mainly used for this type of illegal activities.
legendary
Activity: 2016
Merit: 1107
December 07, 2016, 11:20:14 AM
#15
first bitcoin is blamed for ransomware spread,whats next?
ISIS funding?
oh wai....   https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.17109288
this is same as blaming knives for stabbing and killing people
full member
Activity: 224
Merit: 100
December 03, 2016, 09:40:19 PM
#14
Hackers will use the easiest form of transaction that gives them the most protection from being caught. Really not a bitcoin issue, the concept you are thinking of would be against the idea of bitcoin.
You do not hear the same drama about itunes cards and yet they are often used in the same manner. Take a step back and ask why the media is pushing the ransomware/bitcoin narrative.
full member
Activity: 224
Merit: 117
▲ Portable backup power source for mining.
December 02, 2016, 11:57:05 AM
#13
What people should say:                                                             What people say:
I lost my coins because I kept them at an exchange that got hacked.          Bitcoin was hacked.
I lost my coins because I invested in a "double your bitcoins" scheme.       Bitcoin is a scam.
I lost my coins because I don't understand change addresses.                     Bitcoin can only be used by programming geeks.
I got overcharged by middlemen when trying to send fiat through Bitcoin.  Bitcoin is a scam that would never match Western Union.
Bitcoin can be used by criminals and ransomware.                                       Bitcoin is a money-laundering scheme that only benefits criminals.


Please stop the FUD about a "ransomware problem."
hero member
Activity: 761
Merit: 606
December 01, 2016, 06:51:41 PM
#12
I read somone is developing a new address that can leave a predertmined window claw back the funds. I bet we will see that very soon.

Got any links to read about it?  Such a device/invention would be ripe for scammers to steal back funds on legit transactions.  I don't see it.
member
Activity: 111
Merit: 100
December 01, 2016, 06:46:14 PM
#11
I read somone is developing a new address that can leave a predertmined window claw back the funds. I bet we will see that very soon.
sr. member
Activity: 434
Merit: 250
December 01, 2016, 06:42:46 PM
#10
Attacking the payment system isnt the answer.
Anyone who is competent enough to actually code a decent ransomware will be smart enough to use new addresses, mixers, transfer money between BTC and anonymous coins like Monero, etc.
The only way to stop ransomware is not get infected, and if you do, have backups of your data so you don't have to pay the fee.
If its not worth their time, the authors will move onto other projects.
Unfortunately, cybercrime is very profitable, and is not going away any time soon.
hero member
Activity: 761
Merit: 606
December 01, 2016, 05:56:13 PM
#9
Well most of these hackers are using these addresses just once, and then they push these funds through mixer services to sweep their tracks. If the authorities are serious about the conviction of these people, then they will have to follow the legal route and Subpoena these Mixer services for this information and then follow the money from there.

Bitcoin is not 100% Anonymous and can be followed, if the right strategies are used to follow the money.

The best prevention now, will be to make incremental backups. < Not just over writing the same old backup every day >   


First let me say that I hate the ransomware thing.  I don't want them to stay in business.  Back to commenting about your post.  The mixers I use are completely onion and the servers are well hidden.  This means there is no entity to Subpoena, and like the best VPN's they destroy their records after a very short period of time if they keep that even for a second (that is the promise anyway).  That period (for mixers) is just long enough to confirm verification with their client in case anything goes wrong during the scrub.  I have never had a glitch operating in this world.
legendary
Activity: 3542
Merit: 1965
Leading Crypto Sports Betting & Casino Platform
December 01, 2016, 01:21:56 AM
#8
Well most of these hackers are using these addresses just once, and then they push these funds through mixer services to sweep their tracks. If the authorities are serious about the conviction of these people, then they will have to follow the legal route and Subpoena these Mixer services for this information and then follow the money from there.

Bitcoin is not 100% Anonymous and can be followed, if the right strategies are used to follow the money.

The best prevention now, will be to make incremental backups. < Not just over writing the same old backup every day >   
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