Maybe on a later future they could ask for LTC, Ethereum (ETH or ETC) or whatever. It is quite possible.
P.S. I think that the first ransomware was CryptoLocker and the creator was found to be a russian hacker so, yes, you could say that ransomware's origin is Russia.
P.S.2 I did read the article, but I could send you 10 FAIL coins as I don't think I was infected by your ransomware.
P.S. I think that the first ransomware was CryptoLocker and the creator was found to be a russian hacker so, yes, you could say that ransomware's origin is Russia.
P.S.2 I did read the article, but I could send you 10 FAIL coins as I don't think I was infected by your ransomware.
Why not the hackers ask for Monero or Bytecoin. These are more anonymous coins and are more difficult to trace the usage.
I guess because it's already rather difficult for a not-so-tech-savvy user to buy bitcoin, let alone bytecoin or monero. If they would ask these coins, i guess more of their victims wouldn't be able to ackquire the ransom even if they wanted to. (just my opinion tough).
Bitcoin is allmost impossible to trace IF you know what you're doing... You can go trough 1 or 2 mixers, use an online casino with a central wallet, go trough some exchanges to exchange the "tainted" BTC into a more anonymous coin => send it to a different exchange => exchange it back to BTC, buy freshly mined coins from a miner for a premium fee,... All this can be done over a mix of trusted VPN's, trusted proxy's, TOR on public wifi's... I'd like to see a gov agency trace BTC from a user that actually knows how to break the link.
Ya good point !
I also did post a link to that recent story where they mentioned BTC "mixing"
Apparently they are getting away with it and those criminals are hard to catch.
And some pay because they have no choice.
Imagine people use their PC's for anything.
So if you had your life's work on there and had to pay $600 to get it back.. many end up paying !
Hell look at the cost of PC repair at your local stores.. they are not cheap.
So from a victims perspective i don't think they would worry about it that much. (the money)
Plus how much money you make ?
If your work on your PC saved was worth a lot for a big company where you made a lot.. you may not care about paying.
I just wonder if Altcoins will end up being more common with them in the future.
So far i have no experience with them.. just seen them mentioned lots in the news.
I heard before they make something like 350 million year and climbing.
SO..
As time goes on we are all facing a larger risk of getting hit by one !
And the silence in the Altcoin scene + Ransomware is deafening.. i doubt it will stay that way too.
Watch your backs people.
I seen one written in Javascript the News story said LOL
Ya Javascript like as used in web pages.. (not Java)
If a new coin launches here with one it could be ugly.
Or if an existing one is updated with malicious code..
Don't forget this HAS happened here more than once with various malware that included Keyloggers.
Users here HAVE had their wallets cleared out after getting hit with an infected coin wallet.
So don't take these risks lightly !
ME ?
I wouldn't pay.
I prob couldn't afford it and if i could i wouldn't do it anyway.
I would just reformat my PC and pull out my install disc and sadly start all over again.
Over the years i have had some stuff backed up so i would not have to start out from scratch.
Much of "my stuff" i can get again.. like downloaded TV shows or Music / Pictures.