[Help] 2011 Steganography File - Original Extraction Tool No Longer Works, Looki

[chenchen1111]

Hi all,

I'm helping a client with a technical issue involving an old Bitcoin
private key storage method from around 2011.

Back then, a technical person embedded the private key into a video
file (.wmv format) using steganography, along with a custom-built
extraction tool (packaged as an installer).

Fast forward to now, and we're running into these problems:

1. The original extraction tool/installer no longer works properly
   (not sure if the software itself is broken, or if it's an OS/
   environment compatibility issue with modern systems)
2. We consulted someone with a cryptography background, but they
   said this is more of a file structure / steganography extraction
   problem rather than a pure cryptography issue
3. We still have the original video file and are looking for someone
   with relevant experience to help

A few questions:
- Does this kind of situation typically require a digital forensics
  or reverse engineering specialist rather than a cryptographer?
- Does anyone have recommendations for reputable individuals or
  firms with experience in this area?
- Has anyone here dealt with something similar? Would appreciate
  hearing how you approached it.

Given this involves real assets, I'd rather not share too many
specifics in a public thread. If you have relevant experience and
are open to discussing this, please reply or PM me — happy to
share more details and verify credentials from there.

Thanks in advance!

[DaveF]

Need more info on the original too.
Windows based? Linux based? Web based?

Any thing from back then should still be able to run, you just might have to jump though a ton of hoops to get there.
You can still find and install Windows XP or old versions of linux in a VM.

What errors are you getting?
Do you have any notes as to how the original software was installed?

-Dave

[LoyceV]

a technical person embedded the private key into a video file (.wmv format) using steganography, along with a custom-built
extraction tool (packaged as an installer).

I've seen so many people lose access to their Bitcoin because they tried to "be smart" by creating their own encryption format.

1. The original extraction tool/installer no longer works properly

Did they ever test the "extraction tool" back in 2011? If not, chances are it just doesn't work. I'd start by contacting that "technical person" who created this.

(not sure if the software itself is broken, or if it's an OS/environment compatibility issue with modern systems)

That's easy to test by getting a 2010 computer system with software from that time.

[NotATether]

Need more info on the original too.
Windows based? Linux based? Web based?

He mentioned WMV file format, so probably a Windows installation.

Perhaps a coding agent can help with this: Fable or Astra.

[ABCbits]

Back then, a technical person embedded the private key into a video
file (.wmv format) using steganography, along with a custom-built
extraction tool (packaged as an installer).

Consider checking if anyone still have the app/script to embed the private key, documentation about how it works or at least remember how it supposed to work.

1. The original extraction tool/installer no longer works properly
   (not sure if the software itself is broken, or if it's an OS/
   environment compatibility issue with modern systems)

AI these days is probably good enough to perform reverse-engineer, assuming advance binary obstruction wasn't used on the tool/installer.

(not sure if the software itself is broken, or if it's an OS/environment compatibility issue with modern systems)

That's easy to test by getting a 2010 computer system with software from that time.

VM with old OS also could work.