What is the greatest threat to Bitcoin? Some possible technical problem or gov?

[felipelalli]

If is possible technical problem, what is this? I heard on Reddit and Facebook some worries about transfers/sec. Is it a real threat?

Thanks!

[adamstgBit]

If is possible technical problem, what is this? I heard on Reddit and Facebook some worries about transfers/sec. Is it a real threat?

Thanks!

ya its a problem "they" know about and are working on.

there's all kinds of threats bitcoin needs to tackle, so ya... you need some balls to jump in this pound 

[edd]

Technically, the protocol is still in beta.

[Stephen Gornick]

If is possible technical problem, what is this? I heard on Reddit and Facebook some worries about transfers/sec. Is it a real threat?

These aren't in any particular order:

 - http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Weaknesses

[Spaceman_Spiff]

If is possible technical problem, what is this? I heard on Reddit and Facebook some worries about transfers/sec. Is it a real threat?

These aren't in any particular order:

 - http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Weaknesses

While I greatly appreciate the availability of such a weaknesses list, I feel that the risks are somewhat downplayed. 
For example the 51% attack is listed as "probably not a problem", but I still think of it as a serious risk (maybe there are other much easier ways to attack the network, frankly I don't know much about the technical side).  It is assumed that the attacker seeks profit within the bitcoin system, whereas I would expect this kind of attack from a system competing with bitcoin, which would avoid losing market share to bitcoin.

[Remember remember the 5th of November]

If is possible technical problem, what is this? I heard on Reddit and Facebook some worries about transfers/sec. Is it a real threat?

Thanks!

This questions is asked a million times per day, search the forums next time.

[MPOE-PR]

Idiots.

Idiots have always been and to this day remain the main threat to anything man made. Idiots infiltrating the US Gov't have pretty much doomed that enterprise, at one point the most successful thing on God's green Earth. Idiots infiltrating Bitcoin have nigh on brought it to its knees already.

[furrycoat]

Idiots.

Idiots have always been and to this day remain the main threat to anything man made. Idiots infiltrating the US Gov't have pretty much doomed that enterprise, at one point the most successful thing on God's green Earth. Idiots infiltrating Bitcoin have nigh on brought it to its knees already.

+1 agree 100%

[justusranvier]

Idiots infiltrating the US Gov't have pretty much doomed that enterprise, at one point the most successful thing on God's green Earth.

What are you talking about? The US Government is at the peak of its success right now. The are collectively the most successful band of thieves the world has ever seen.

[giszmo]

Idiots.

Idiots have always been and to this day remain the main threat to anything man made. Idiots infiltrating the US Gov't have pretty much doomed that enterprise, at one point the most successful thing on God's green Earth. Idiots infiltrating Bitcoin have nigh on brought it to its knees already.

[ArticMine]

Locked bootloaders and DRM. Example Apple IOS (iPod/iphone/iPad), Windows 8 RT on ARM with UEFI locked bootloaders, locked Android devices where the end users does not have root access etc.  The security model of Bitcoin is based upon individual users having complete control over their computing devices in order to have a truly distributed network. Now if one turns over this control to a centralized authority in order to enforce DRM then this opens up the possibility for all sorts of 51% attacks by a centralized authority. For example the US Government instructing Microsoft, Apple and Google to use DRM to paralyse the Bitcoin network.

The best countermeasure is the GPL v3, and insist on root access for owner of the device. This means GNU/Linux and in mobile the new Ubuntu phone OS will be an excellent choice. I will go as far as to suggest using GNU/Linux over Microsoft Windows for Bitcoin mining and for running full Bitcoin nodes for this reason.

[felipelalli]

I'm sorry if I repeated the question. BUT I think you guys did not understand me very well. I said if we have a real *imminent* problem or not. Just that. 

Thanks for who reply nicely and ./. to who was rude.

[MPOE-PR]

Locked bootloaders and DRM. Example Apple IOS (iPod/iphone/iPad), Windows 8 RT on ARM with UEFI locked bootloaders, locked Android devices where the end users does not have root access etc.  The security model of Bitcoin is based upon individual users having complete control over their computing devices in order to have a truly distributed network. Now if one turns over this control to a centralized authority in order to enforce DRM then this opens up the possibility for all sorts of 51% attacks by a centralized authority. For example the US Government instructing Microsoft, Apple and Google to use DRM to paralyse the Bitcoin network.

The best countermeasure is the GPL v3, and insist on root access for owner of the device. This means GNU/Linux and in mobile the new Ubuntu phone OS will be an excellent choice. I will go as far as to suggest using GNU/Linux over Microsoft Windows for Bitcoin mining and for running full Bitcoin nodes for this reason.

These are actually a very good points.

You can't really be into Bitcoin and Windows/Apple at the same time. You kind of have to pick one.

[kangasbros]

While I greatly appreciate the availability of such a weaknesses list, I feel that the risks are somewhat downplayed. 
For example the 51% attack is listed as "probably not a problem", but I still think of it as a serious risk (maybe there are other much easier ways to attack the network, frankly I don't know much about the technical side).  It is assumed that the attacker seeks profit within the bitcoin system, whereas I would expect this kind of attack from a system competing with bitcoin, which would avoid losing market share to bitcoin.

Risk factors are pretty much subjective. It is a wiki though, if you feel that way try editing it

[stick]

You can't really be into Bitcoin and Windows/Apple at the same time. You kind of have to pick one.

Well, once the hardware token is ready (see https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=122438.0) you'll be able to use these (non-Linux, where you are not in full control) devices as well.

[Isokivi]

In my mind a full scale world war seems like the biggest threat.

[Spekulatius]

In my mind a full scale world war seems like the biggest threat.

Make it an atomic world war and Im in.