Bitcoin Forum

What had the world come to? Thought you guys need to see this. It's in the Netherlands by the way.

It's sad really, just means more bad press for BTC and an even worse stigma.

See for yourselves. Here is the article:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/serial-bomber-demands-bitcoin-ransom-6250202 (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/technology/serial-bomber-demands-bitcoin-ransom-6250202)

Uh oh, sad to hear that news. It really darkens bitcoin image in people's view, making bitcoin looks linked to any criminal action (drug selling, ransom, internet scam, etc).

what the fuck? blame the fucking bomber, not the currency he's asking for. this is getting a bit too ridiculous.

I live in the Netherlands and I don't think they really put too much stress on the bitcoin part. Ofcourse it is in the title, but the articles are mainly about safety and that they really need to catch the guy.

The Dutch news was much less negative about bitcoin. They did mention that he demanded it but they didn't mention the usual bullshit like that it's only used in illegal transactions etc.

This happened to a local town office.  Someone opened up an email with ransomeware and it basiclly held up all computer systems.  The demand was for btc to be sent so they could resume business.  It was sent (small amount, I think less than $1000)

I agree though, in both cases though the CRIMINALS are to blame.  BUT, btc does offer them a convenient way to operate.

it seems that bitcoin is seen , by criminals, as a better version of cash, that's why they ask for this, othwerwise someone may think that those criminals hate bitcoin and they want to throw a bad light on it, by doing criminal stuff like this one

Actually this is wrong. Basically he would be much better off if he had demanded cash, this way we can clearly see where his money is going. I'm also going to assume that he isn't proficient in using Bitcoin so it will be easy to track him.
Cash is a much more convenient way in some cases as it would be harder to trace.

Sadly things like this are only going to get more common as bitcoin is perfect for ransoms. The old leaving a bag of cash in a bin in a park days are long gone. It wont be long before people are being kidnapped and held for bitcoin ransoms as bitcoin is perfect for the criminals to be able to get what they want with minimal risk.

Exactly what I was thinking. Cash would be much quicker and easier.

this is one of the reason why goverment will not adopt bitcoin..

I imagine he asks for Bitcoins in order not to be traced?

Yes, it is bad press as people will get the idea that Bitcoin is a currency for criminal activity.

I have read this yesterday or a day before and couldn't believe. Firstly I was disappointed, since I saw this as more bad press for Bitcoin as well but then I came to realize that we can't do anything about it, just like the people who have created cash couldn't do anything about when bad folks robbed banks and asked the ransom from people in cash.

So lets just let it be, there is nothing we can do!

More biased news ::) Bitcoin, Bitcoin, Bitcoin everywhere. What about bombs and safety?

What about the millions of fiat terrorists spend on attacks? The people that fund them? The bombs that are bought with fiat? The millionaire fiat ransoms asked to release journalists and prisoners of war? Media is putting a blindfold on people.

Not to mention what has already been said, the guy's funds can be traced.

I believe the story said it was believed the hackers were from russia.  Cash would be a lot harder to get from usa to russia.

And I'm going to guess if they can get ransomware onto a computer remotely that can hold up an entire municipalities daily operations, then they are probably proficient enough with BTC.

Plus with btc, they can operate fully from the comfort of their desk.  I dont see how cash would have been "easier"

We should really start commenting on these type of bad press blown up in the press. Do not blame the technology used to commit criminal actions.. blame the f$#% criminals

doing it. We cannot stop criminals from doing crime.... !!!! The most common argument is, Bitcoin enabled him/her to do this or that... FFS what did these people use before there

were Bitcoin? Monopoly money or cash? It's as if it's becoming the new fashion to blame Bitcoin for everything that is being done these days.  >:( >:( >:( 

in order not to get the money tracked, they demanded bitcoin, instead of any fiats, you know the fiat transaction is easily reversible.
for bitcoin, even though if you successfully tracked the bitcoin, you would not ever be able to steal it back.
that guy is just for kicks.
bitcoin gives him an ability to do this, duh this could destroy bitcoin.

Oh great, another shinng representative of the Bitcoin community.

I really hate to see this...

This is a bad way for people to know Bitcoin.

The hustle is real. Can't blame him tho, anyone with a brain knows that Bitcoin will be way too valuable to not collect them at any expenses, he's using the "gotta catch them all" extreme hustle method.

PS: joking. Not about the valuable part tho. You better collect as much as you can, but keep it legal boys.

Innovative idea of the serial bomber.
I think he have done some research on bitcoins and how to clean the unclean bitcoins.

But a bad incident in the way of mass adaption of bitcoin.

that's sad. I wonder how many criminals will start researching bitcoin after reading that article. It's safe and secure way to ask for ransom..

If people just have a bit of brain in their heads they would come to the conclusion that this idiot also could have demanded cash money. So is cash evil???Or he demands for a load of chocolate bars because he is so addicted to it. So is chocolate evil??
It's a pitty how easy today people and even whole society can be brainwashed.

that website seems to be against bitcoin if you read other articles related to bitcoin

http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/what-bitcoin-you-need-know-4144395

too bad internet doesn't ban stupid people from creating website and hiring idiots

I bet comments are disabled too

This is crazy .I can't imagine they'll ever send him the bitcoins. It will create a huge precedent for this type of crime.

How? Bitcoin is faster to travel around the world without the need of a third party. Don't we advertise this, then why is that when criminals use it we say that cash is quicker and easier?

It's not, cash is bulky. If a criminal were to ask for ransom in Cash, they'd have to define a collection point then someone from them will have to go there and physically pick it up and that could lead to getting them trapped or traced. With bitcoins they can sit in the farthest corners of the world and receive it there within seconds, whether they can get traced with blockchain tracking or other means is another matter but Bitcoin is convenient and criminals will use it.

But that being said, it doesn't mean that it is bad and it should be blamed, if bitcoin wasn't there, criminals would have used some other way and even if they had received the money they still would have blown the place. In the end people have to realize that it is a faster more convenient technology, like emails, and it is going to be used by criminals and good guys but just because email can be used to transmit encrypted secret messages between criminals around the world, it shouldn't be blamed for the wrong doings and just like that bitcoins shouldn't be blamed either.

The above is a quote from their article. The writer of the article may have had very bad impression on bitcoin. However, both USD, EUR and BTC are money, and some USD/EUR transactions may still not be traceable (like some cash payments privately to shops/person to person aka P2P). They wants BTC because they know how big bitcoin is!

Very true. Good thing people don't ever use cash for anything illegal, otherwise everyone would try to get that banned, too.

Oh wait, lol.

It was only a matter of time before something like this happened.
I'd suggest they send him the bitcoins and let this guy track the coins:

https://www.reddit.com/r/SheepMarketplace/comments/1rvlft/i_just_chased_him_through_a_bitcoin_tumbler_and/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/SheepMarketplace/comments/1rvlft/i_just_chased_him_through_a_bitcoin_tumbler_and/)

bad news: bitcoins being used as ransom
good news: more people are now aware of the presence and power of bitcoin

This must be spread bad impression on Bitcoin in Public.

The Mirror is a truly crappy tabloid in the UK so I wouldn't care too much about what they say. It's only a few pegs less than the Daily Mail, which also likes to highlight moral outrage at anything new that could be used for anything illicit.

If someone invented a new type of low calorie cake they'd print articles about how those cakes are gateway cakes to bigger, fattier, heart disease promoting cakes, that are also destroying teenagers psychology and turning women into prostitutes.

Ignore them. :)

bad guys nowadays are coping up with the technology.
instead of the usual currency, they will ask bitcoins, cant be tracked down, but i think traders or bitcoin wallet operators will be suspicious about the sudden increase of incoming bitcoin to ones wallet.

Nothing wrong in that.
Just shows the universal power of Bitcoin (like gold).

how much did the bomber want to stop the bombing?