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> Cryptocurrency is no the enabler of ransomware. Ransomware was prevalent before cryptocurrencies. This meme really needs to die. It's driving me more and mor

> Cryptocurrency is no the enabler of ransomware. Ransomware was prevalent before cryptocurrencies. This meme really needs to die. It's driving me more and more insane every time I read it. Ransomware may have existed previously but it was nowhere nearly as prevalent before cryptocurrencies came around. It is not a mere coincidence of the cosmos that almost every single darn time (I think literally 98% of the time, as of 2019) ransomware infects someone's machine, it demands payment in Bitcoin. There is a clear relationship there for a very good reason. I cannot fathom how otherwise logical people can see these with their own eyes and yet somehow blind themselves to the obvious connection. And if you need this from an authoritative mouth because it isn't already clear as daylight... "Cryptocurrency is one of the single enabling factors that allows cybercriminals to deploy a massive amount of ransomware across state and local agencies", said Christopher Krebs. [1] [1] https://www.rsaconference.com/library/blog/how-cryptocurrency-fuels-ransomware https://www.rsaconference.com/library/blog/how-cryptocurrenc...

SCHiM 5y ago
I've been in security for ages, ransomware was there but has evolved since then. Two other reasons can explain the increase in ransomware, that merely correlate with the rise of cryptocurrencies: 1) The innovation of encrypting files hadn't occurred to ransomware operators yet. 2) The value of computer systems, and data, itself increased. Massively increasing the likelihood of victims paying the ransom. Before crypto currencies 'FBI scareware', which held your computer ransom by disabling your standard UI, simply asked you fork over the cash via Western Union. This increases the friction for consumers, but if the colonial pipeline was ransomed in the same way, and the ransom only payable over WU, then they would have done that instead.
- Isinlor 5y ago
  The law enforcement would be able to trace the payment trough Western Union. Especially a million and more transactions. The money laundering regulations apply to money transfers.
- raverbashing 5y ago
  > and the ransom only payable over WU, then they would have done that instead. As if WU and crypto don't have very different KYC requirements (as in - none for crypto)
me_me_me 5y ago
Did you know that before Bitcoin you couldn't buy drugs and crime couldn't operate? Only if bitcoin never existed. There was and always will be a crime, and criminal will find a way to make money and scale it if they can.

SCHiM 5y ago

I've been in security for ages, ransomware was there but has evolved since then. Two other reasons can explain the increase in ransomware, that merely correlate with the rise of cryptocurrencies: 1) The innovation of encrypting files hadn't occurred to ransomware operators yet. 2) The value of computer systems, and data, itself increased. Massively increasing the likelihood of victims paying the ransom. Before crypto currencies 'FBI scareware', which held your computer ransom by disabling your standard UI, simply asked you fork over the cash via Western Union. This increases the friction for consumers, but if the colonial pipeline was ransomed in the same way, and the ransom only payable over WU, then they would have done that instead.

Isinlor 5y ago
The law enforcement would be able to trace the payment trough Western Union. Especially a million and more transactions. The money laundering regulations apply to money transfers.
raverbashing 5y ago
> and the ransom only payable over WU, then they would have done that instead. As if WU and crypto don't have very different KYC requirements (as in - none for crypto)

me_me_me 5y ago

Did you know that before Bitcoin you couldn't buy drugs and crime couldn't operate? Only if bitcoin never existed. There was and always will be a crime, and criminal will find a way to make money and scale it if they can.