Bitcoin Forum

My friend died in a grisly road accident two months ago. He had accumulated quite a substantial amount of bitcoins and he had told me that he wanted to sell them when the price hits over $1,000. he had accumulated then when the price was below $250 a few months ago. Given that we had exchanged bitcoins on various occasions, I decided to check one of the addresses that we transacted with him and realized that indeed it had bitcoins.

My concern is that they will get lost just like that because no one knows the passwords that he used. He left behind a very young family of wife and two beautiful daughters. I feel if someone can gain access to these bitcoin they will help the family a great deal. I know it is difficult but I wanted to know if there is a way that the address can be "hacked" to enable his family gain access to the bitcoin.

you cant hack bitcoins away from an address from the bitcoin network side. (its why people trust bitcoin)

but your friend obviously had a computer or phone to send transactions.
so gaining access to that device is something you should talk to his family about.

inform them that he left them some assets on his device and teach them how to send the bitcoins to a trustable exchange who can give them fiat when they need it.

then let them choose the best time to do this, and allow them to find a computer specialist to get to the devices passwords.

I think your best bet would be to discuss it with his family and look for some writting down passwords or something.

It is very likely that he wrote them down and hid them somewhere. If that is the case, his wife may know either the password or where he might have stored it.

You can hack it by bruteforcing it with GPUs, but good luck ! It should take a few thousand years :/...

No problem at all.  Your friends private key in on this website right here:

directory.io (http://directory.io)

You can just go there, get the key, and then transfer the bitcoins.

Lol you can't hack a known bitcoin even you know the full bitcoin address and the trasaction all you need to do is ask him that he will visit you in your dream and ask him what is his password to open his account specially the email address he use to register that account or to open that account every day

Does he have an encrypted wallet.dat file on his computer? if it's the case the password is probably a phone number, his ID, or something similar. maybe his daughter's birthdays.
He probably left the password written somewhere in the house, search inside books for a piece of paper. most people don't solely rely on their memory for such valuable things.

In order to gain access to a Bitcoin wallet you need the private key associated with the public key which is basically the Bitcoin address you can check on the Blockchain. If your friend used an online wallet to move his coins it's possible to log into his Bitcoin wallet easily through the web browser he has been using. I would suggest checking the browsers on his work and private computers and also any password managing programs or installed Bitcoin wallets and also going through the browser history on his mobile phones as well. Also it would be worth a shot to check any usb sticks or back-up external drives lying around in his room.

Like mentioned by many in this thread, it would be best to contact his/her family and make them aware that there's a substantial amount of bitcoin that he/she had stored in that address. Probably if they find it, they may be aware of the password to access his/her wallet and probably make use of it themselves. If you're lucky you may as well be rewarded for informing them.

Yeah i would tell t he family about it, for all you know he may have already told them.  i know myself that if anything happens to me i have told my sons where to get the private keys, anyone who holds bitcoin would be mad not to.  you dont seem to know much about bitcoin yourself so mentioning it to his family is prob the best thing.

all the best

I feel nervous, if oneday satoshi's 1 million coin would be hacked, the bitcoin price will plummet.

in theory its possible, in practise its not.

They need 10^50 years or longer?  I can't remember the correct time in theory, but we can't see that day before we die.

I thought it will be easier if the case is he use blockchain for his wallet, you can try to gain the access by providing the 12 mnemonic words, I'm sure it is printed or written somewhere because simply memorizing such series on the right order would be considered as a time wasting for so many people. You can easily know his identifier by checking his email from blockchain.

Nope. It is impossible. Try to hack the user's PC instead. That makes more sense. You still need to know the owner of the address and his/her ip though. I am not the expert about the rest but nothing a well placed/hid trojan wouldn't fix your problem.

Here's a nice explanation of why it's not feasible in practice:

Wrong. It is possible, however it is just not probable with the current technology within a time-span close to our lifespan.

I think it will be hard if we try hack the wallet only, i think you can check the PC your friend and explaining about bitcoin to his family, maybe they can give sign or password into bitcoin wallet.

Thanks for that detailed explanation. I have a question though. In the future when bitcoin will be still used, and we obviously will be having a better tech to "crack/collide" addresses.
It is possible to change /upgrade bitcoin address? For example add additional 10 symbols or find a way for addresses to be truly unique?

Then it is practically impossible.

if its possible we would have tons of robbers lurking the blockchain trying to gain access to wallets with even just 5 dollars.

If you friend indeed own a substantial amount of btc, then i guess he has a hardwallet of have installed bitcoin core or perhaps electrum in in laptop. it can easily be accessed if given the permission of his family.

Yes it hard to hack a bitcoin wallet. In fact it will take thousands of years to get the private key by default. So what you see hackers, hack exchanges and look for passwords instead of hacking the phrase it self, since it's simply impossible.

It looks like you've gotten some good answers here but yes I would agree to just get your friends' phone/laptop/tablet and see if he ha any unencrypted addresses. That would be the only way you could get any access to his bitcoins. Sorry for your loss and I'm especially sorry for his family's loss. I'm sure they'll need the funds if you can get access to them somehow.

As a community we should really have a guide on how to make sure your family would have access to your bitcoins in the event of your death.

Unless there is some unexpected and exponential growth in the generation capabilities, then I don't see that happening within our lifespan. Besides, trying to target some addresses is likely going to be economically unfeasible (e.g. why would attempt to generate address with XXXX Bitcoin, when it's going to cost you several times more money to do so?).

I've actually thought about this recently. The change would most likely be complex, although I'd say that it's a possible.

Low chance of occurring != impossible.

No, the community does not need to do anything. Anyone with a brain and some knowledge should be able to figure out how to set this up on their own depending on what their setup is.

The story is horrible. I am vey sorry of your friend, but I see the way only in inviting some computer genios to he or she helped you in that point. Must be the amount of bitcoins your friend is really big enough if you decided to make something like this to cash those money for his family support.
Good luck. Hope you will find the way to your target.

we have to be more precise. the public key and the address are two different things and you can change them all you want it does not make it harder to find the private key.
in order to add additional symbols to make bitcoin safer you probably would need to move the coins to a new wallet (key pair). this is not necessary and if we would do it, then i guess you would come along and ask for more again to make it even safer.

Well, that is likely the case. However, such a solution leaves out old/lost/unused addresses/funds at risk. An example of this would be Satoshi's coins.

Just because it may not be necessary today, that doesn't mean that it won't be necessary tomorrow.

Well, then it has to be done right the first time so that it doesn't have to be repeated for a long time.

you know the numbers. do you think it will be necessary tomorrow? because i think it was done right the first time and we do not need to improve it. especially if we both think this would leave out the old funds that would not migrate.

It depends on wallet's security, if you use any untrustworthy wallet then wallet manager could stop you from accessing you account thus they hacked you, in other way it's almost not possible to hack any unknown btc address even if the owner's username and password is known became most legit wallet have F2A security

I didn't mean literally 'tomorrow'. However, we can't really predict how technology is going to progress in the next 50 years. It may very well be that an 'extension' is required.

As said, we can't predict the future. Although I'd say that the probability of this is very slim within the near/mid future.

never say never, but i still go outside even if there are chances that i might get struck by lightning or killed by a wending machine. i take my chances even in 50 years and worry more about the world going extinct before that as i think the probability is higher.   

It is "possible", if you could a next to 0% chance as a possibility. It is incredibly difficult to do anything of that sort, and chances are you'd just be wasting your time trying to get money that you'll likely never get. There simply isn't enough processing power to even consider finding a specific private address a real possibility.

With only knowing bitcoin address you can't be able to hack or know the private key of that address. So i think better to find memo if you friends have left for bitcoin wallet pass or if he have shared his emails password with his wife than she may also access bitcoin wallet associated to that email and use those bitcoins.

It is not low chance of occuring, it very very very very low chance of occuring which makes it practically (can't stress practically enough) impossible.

It is possible only theorically.

Since practice>theory, practically impossible = impossible.

I disagree with this and think that it is false. The definition of impossible is:
What we are talking about here is something possible, but improbable:
Given enough time, a collision can/will happen.

But why is everyone talking about 'hacking' when his family has direct access to his electronic devices and the passwords/private keys may be lying somewhere in plain sight, unencrypted? It's not like trying to guess the password of a complete stranger whatsoever.

The best course of action is to peruse his last used devices for traces of log in data. Heck if the Bitcoin amount is so substantial I would just hire a computer forensics investigator to do the job.

nope i think it will remain difficult to use. you need identifer if they use blockchain, or you must know the email address of the bitcoin address, and impossible the hackers know it? because bitcoin is  anonymous

The email address of the bitcoin address? What the hell does that mean? I think if his friend had a lot of bitcoins he wouldn't be stupid enough to leave them on some crappy online wallet or an exchange like you're getting at here.

Bitcoin is a transparent money and everyone could see your money but one could rich or transfer your money and it is not to m so easy to hack bitcoin wallet because it requires 2 key, one is private key another is public key known as btc address. So it will take years after years even with super computer to decrypt a unknown wallet address.

Maybe you can check on his pc or his laptop, i'm sure there is a information about bitcoin in his browser history. Like a password that saved on the browser and a wallet that already saved too.

The lesson we learn here must be, like our bank account, for bitcoin also we must have nominations. Sharing password and how much bitcoin we are having and saving seem very important for the sake of not wasting our hard work.

Usually bank savings or gold or other properties, are being claimed by our decedents due to the fact of well known ownership. Bitcoin is in digital format so it's hidden. Informing/sharing about all the information about our bitcoin saving to our close family member is becoming a prioritized responsibility.

@OP: I am really sorry for what happened to your friend. Please try to help his family as much as possible you could. I pray to God he must have written his passwords some where, maybe within his computer, please double check, and help his family.

This must be a very hard lesson, but learning from a tragedy. OP's friend may RIP.
I just worry, because I am also not sharing anything about my bitcoin savings with my family members. At least for this reason, we must educate our family members about bitcoins.

We can't never hack it ,it is one of the best features/advantage of bitcoins .
Maybe one of his family knows it ,confront her wife to know if they know what does his husband frequently used passwords .
Your friend maybe saves his password to a files on laptop or on mobile phone .
Anything that connected to him may be a clue for that one for sure he will not remember all his passwords and accounts he will write or type it down in a secure place.

A lesson for us .

I agree chief to chief Naidray
That was the only way ,now i also realize to share my passwords or codes on my personal account or wrote it on a booklet which only me and my close family member knows it .it will be helpful in case of emergency .We are saving money and spending on investments  for our own family then we should share it as we don't know what will happen someone knows ,or where to you right your passwords and important informations.

i have no idea about this because i am not a hacker but may be possible because there so much expert hackers who can hack any kind of address.

An address cannot be reverse engineered to get the private key. So, there is no way you would know your friend's private key if you know his address.

However, you can search for text files in your friends laptops/computer or any other device and see if he has stored his private key or his wallet's password in a text file.
You can also brute-force the password if you have the wallet.dat file.

The only option left is you have to consult with their family and explain them about the situation and tell them that how much helpfull it will be if they are able to get all the details about the wallet. Other then that their is no other way of recovering the wallet with the help of address it is highly impossible, but if in future any new source comes that cannot be said.

And it is a good lesson for all of us who are using bitcoin should keep the records of all details of our work in any means of way which is suitable to you, so that if in future any thing happens they can get help through that saved details about the hardwork what you are doing now for their family. They should get the benefit of their loved ones who are working hard for them.

I don't know where you saw so many expert hackers who can hack any kind of address. Hacking private key by reverse engineering is not possible unless you break the encryption algorithms used and breaking encryption algorithms are thought to be impossible as of today.

Almost impossible because bitcoin transaction only happens when public key and private key match. Sop it's almost impossible to hack a wallet even with super computer it will take years to decrypt the wallet.

That's the true, maybe in 521421512 years you can find the key...
You can make a test doing a personalized btc address... 6 digits takes a lot of time... imagine all address...

That's a point to think, write the keys/passwords and put in some safe box or bank or something like that...

This one, you could recover them through computer.
No chance to do it with any other method.

Agree, this  method would  possibly work or find some  left behind passwords from his pc or mobile , bruteforcing  wallet addresses/ wallets would  be  impossible as of now since no one  could  ever do that and thats  the  good  thing about bitcoin thats why be sure  to keep passwords and  keys . Feel sad about the situation of his friend though.

As i know there is no single way to hack bitcoin wallet, because they used a very strong password encryptor, i think the best way is to search the password in the computer or any place, without that there is no chance of hacking it

Enough time that even all of the human lives combined wouldn't be enough. We live in a practical world. Sorry about that.

yeah, if he has a lot of bitcoins, I think he would save the password, private key, etc in a safe place. just check his device he used to open the wallet or ask the family where he used to spend his time working, probably he saved a note there.

The lifespan of a human is irrelevant for a definition of something. While we may never live to see that day come, it is possible, just not probable.

No, not really. Just because the may or may not have a fair amount of money, that does not mean that they're going to properly secure it.

Same here too...truly agree with you

Disagreed.

it is definitely impossible to hack an address if it was a cold storage, its the easiest question i think

I don't think you can hack an address because there are so many combinations of characters. You would just have to get extremely lucky to guess the private key. If you know that your friend used clues to make the private key, then you could have a shot at it.

but i think it is impossible to hack the address because you would need nasa computers for that and even with that it would take ages

I hope he had left something hidden into the computer or cellphone about those passwords, but this might happen with anyone here, soo thats why we need to share or left something writed about where are our coins and passwords, away from the computer.

You are right  , keeping  private keys,passwords etc. to a safe place would be very helpful in times of emergencies since we really dont know on what would happen to us  in the future , if you do posses large amounts of bitcoin then its better  to leave some important informations regarding on your bitcoins. Hacking bitcoin addrresses is impossible for now.

It`s not possible to hack that wallet.

Just leave the bitcoins.Unfortunately nobody can gain acess without password.

Is this an online wallet?

Life is full of unexpectations, in the race of gaining big profits from bitcoin, we should not forget to transfer our assets to our next-generation. Better, at least now you need to react to take necessary steps to take care of your bitcoin assets at emergencies times.

For me it is not possible.  It would be hard to hack a bitcoin just by knowing the bitcoin address.  Maybe if you are really into helping the bereaved family of your friend, you may want to tell it to them.  Maybe they can supply you with the possible password that your friend used.

it's impossible,because as i hear most of hacker hacking the control over wallet not the address itself

That was hard and if ever there is a way I doubt they will tell it to you so easily. Who knows if your telling the truth. The best thing you should do is tell their families about bitcoin after explaining leave it to their families and they are the one who will check his pc/phone or notes if ever your friends wrote down the password/key.

well yeah, if you know only an address and if he had never actually shared his private key then it is impossible

I don't think there is anyway unless it's a brain wallet and you have a good decent idea about the passphrase, Other than that it's impossible to predict the private key of a bitcoin address if you don't have it encrypted or directly visible.

it is possible the password is written down somewhere but its also possible that only hints that would make sense to the owner of the wallet are written down. that way even if bad actors find the hints it wouldnt help them with the wallet.

those hints also might help the family but they would need recognize the hints (which may or may not make any sort of sense) as a lead to the password.

You can't get into an address without having the private key of the address, that's the most important rule regarding bitcoin. You might be able to do something if you have the private key encrypted or if it's a brain wallet where you have the key, otherwise you can't hack an address.

True, you could  possibly hack an address  if you have the  private key   because if you dont have ti there no chance that you could able to hack it.  Thats the  beauty of  bitcoin which about  on its security and  no one could able  to hack it from you unless if they have the private keys.

If there were a way to use public keys to determine (hack) private keys then there wold be no bitcoins left.

Similar to you hiding a geocache in Iceland I've left a grain of rice somewhere in our solar system. (Hint: it's not on earth). It contains my private key that may hold 2500 satoshi or 1 bitcoin (or anything in between). If you and your ancestors looked for 1000 years would you find this grain of rice? That's about how probable it is of hacking abitcoin address.

impossible with current technology the best you can do is try to look between your computer or devices, maybe you have lucky and find the private key, but you can not do it by brute force.

I think it is impossible to Hack the bitcoins by knowing only the address of those bitcoins. Better to tell his family about the whole story and ask them to cooperate with you to find the password of the address. If he was using the wallet in his computer then there is a hope that a good IT expert can do it but the chances are lower than 3% . Try to find his password from his stuff and email address if it is easy to access otherwise there is no other way.

If you can find his wallet.dat file you could try brute forcing the password that protects the private key(s). There is a possibility that he used a weak password. Certainly a lot better chance of success that trying to get the private key from the address.

I thought it was impossible to do. when someone dies who know the password of course he alone. and how to bypass his target to determine if the password is dead?
unless you have access to holding his laptop

But not for if you have the private key of the wallet and all of that is become possible. ::)

May you should ask to hackers. May be they can help you . I know it is hard to thrust the hackers , but this is the only way. Or you can learn to bee hacker, so you can thrust youre self. It just my oppinion. 😄

first of all i feel sad for your friends death. May he rest in peace.
actually it is not possible to hack any bitcoin address because public key is secret and to match the exact private key it would take lot of time even the chances of cracking is almost negligible. but if he had used 3rd party wallet to store bitcoin then hope you could contact the wallet developer and say them about your problem hope they will help.

And also sometimes some people has the forms saved in their browsers to be used anytime without typing them again and again, so maybe he can find it in his PC if something like that exists, or if he used a mobile wallet then there would surely be access on his mobile still.