DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware extortionists Darkside

Re:DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware... by dheera on Monday June 07, 2021 @08:25PM (#27429159)

And if they don't send? With electronically stored fiat, the feds can just ask the bank to give them the money right out of their account, and I'm sure the banks would cooperate. With paper cash they can just hold their arm while the SWAT team go on a rampage through their bedsheets for the cash.

What does one do for Bitcoin, short of a hard fork?

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Re:DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware... by kolinko on Monday June 07, 2021 @08:30PM (#27429201)

In crypto „seizing” means getting access to the wallet and sending funds to the one that gov’t has under it’s sole control

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Re:DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware... by dheera on Monday June 07, 2021 @08:36PM (#27429250)

How do they get access to the wallet, assuming the dude won't tell them? With fiat they can do it with force, that's the difference. If the dude won't tell them they have no way to get access to it, other than the $5 wrench.

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Re:DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware... by acdha on Monday June 07, 2021 @10:48PM (#27430120)

> If the dude won't tell them they have no way to get access to it, other than the $5 wrench.

This assumes perfect opsec: the guy is unphishable, has a quick-response switch to wipe their computers when their house is raided, etc. They get a lot of people through simple gaps: bust the door down when the target is in the bathroom, grab the unlocked computer in a public setting, etc.

The other big assumption is that the only copy of the key belonged to someone in the gang who is a high-value target. If it’s an exchange, they need to make an official request. Someone offering laundering services or a lower-value person in the gang, the offer is likely going to be offered a plea bargain for cooperating to get bigger fish versus a much longer sentence.

Even if it is the most culpable member of the gang, the prospect of a very long prison sentence versus something shorter is going to weigh heavily — especially if you know that they’re just going to leave you in jail until you give them the key anyway.

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Re:DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware... by jimbob21 on Monday June 07, 2021 @08:53PM (#27429379)

If the key is solely located only in the hacker's brain, yes it is out of their reach. Usually, however, if you gain access to the hacker's comp, they'll have it written down somewhere.

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Re:DOJ seizes $2.3M in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware... by icedchai on Monday June 07, 2021 @08:48PM (#27429353)

Maybe they go through their bedsheets looking for the passphrase written on a sticky note? I'm sure US intelligence can be quite persuasive.

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