In dueling narratives in today's news headlines in Belarus the country is simultaneously experiencing both a trade bonanza and a currency panic to which strong capital controls have been imposed in response. As this happens a Russian Member of Parliament hinted in a tweet that if President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko warms relations with the west in an effort to improve economic prospects he might face a fate similar to Libya's Ghaddafi who fell in a coup supported by the United States after entering into a détente. Continue reading
Author Archives: Aaron 'BingoBoingo' Rogier
Preet Bharara: Keep Politics Out of Ulbricht Defense
The Daily Dot reports that prosecutors in the Ross Ulbricht case working under Preet Bharara is seeking to bar Ulbricht and his defense team from bringing up the subject of Ulbricht's political beliefs at trial, and wants to prevent Ulbricht from saying anything political at all on the stand. Preet Baharara is himself specifically concerned that the defense wants to bring up: Continue reading
Former MoneyGram Executive Sued by US Government
The United States is suing former MoneyGram chief compliance officer Thomas Haider as prosecutors wish to hold him personally responsible for the fact that telemarketing scammers managed to at some point receive payments through MoneyGram's services. The suit was announced by Preet Bharara, the US Attorney for the Southern District of Manhattan and FinCEN director Jennifer Shasky Calvery. Continue reading
btcXchange.ro Dispute Heats Up
Earlier this week Romanian Bitcoin exchange btcXchange.ro issued an advisory that customers withdraw both Bitcoin and Leu denominated funds from their platform by today, December 19th. Today they issued a further advisory that issues on their platform are related to an ongoing dispute between that platform's management and their developer. Continue reading
Lawsky Walks Back From Original Bitlicense
There are reports that Ben Lawsky of the New York Department of Financial Services is walking back from this original Bitlicense proposal which would have effectively excised New York State from the world of Bitcoin, while still advancing a weaker version of the proposal which would have a similar effect. The rumors that he is offering a weaker version are based upon the contents of a speech he delivered today, though the actual text of his regulatory proposal is still unavailable.
Sony Cancels Movie Under Duress
After a deluge of leaks and a single anonymous threat in the wake of Sony's hacking by a group calling itself the Guardians of Peace, numerous Theater Chains and Sony Pictures have canceled the release of the comedy film The Interview. There are reports that tomorrow Federal Investigators in the United States will hold a press conference where they will present allegations which point to North Korea as a State actor having been behind the hacking, leaking, and threats aimed at Sony Pictures entertainment. An analysis of some of the malware implicated in the attack suggests a substantially lower level of sophistication and talent went into this effort than is usually associated with state level actors.
A scene from the canceled movie in which what appears to be a tank shell strikes Kim Jung Un's helicopter, immolates him, and causes his head to explode is available on Youtube at present and has been embedded below: Continue reading
Too Many People Pay Ransomware Demands
A recent report by ESET security suggests that the TorrentLocker ransomware enjoys a 1.44% rate of success in converting victims into ransom payments. This discouraging figure suggest that there are still far too many people subsidizing this phenomenon. As noted in the guide to protecting yourself from ransomware, paying ransoms only encourages the continuation of this activity. Don't be like the Sheriff's department that admits it paid to subsidize criminal activity.
Spanish CyberSquat Raided in 'Counter-Terrorism' Operation
There are report that Kasa de la Muntanya has been raided by Spanish police for its connections to Anarchist activity in an operation that has been described as being "Counter-Terrorism" in nature. At least 11 people have been arrested. Kasa de la Muntanya had in the past been profiled by the BBC as being a 'Cyber Squat' and has been described by Julia Tourianski on Twitter as a place that housed several families. An online profile describes Kasa de la Muntanya as a social center which has been occupied since 1989. Continue reading
Dying Media Company Seeks Lifeline With Bitcoin
Time Inc, formerly a part of Time Warner and independent before that, has announced it is going to accept Bitcoin in exchange for magazine subscriptions. A building from an earlier, happier part of Time Inc.'s history was recently the site where Vitalik Buterin won an award of some sort.
The Antidote to Ransomware: Prevention
The threat of ransomware as the dominant means by much malware peddlers can extract a quick profit has slowly been growing ever since Bitcoin surpassed the per ounce price of silver in early 2013. Seeing as ransomware has become such a main stream phenomenon that it has reached a New York Post advice column it's high time Qntra has offered some advice on avoiding the pains that ransomware can inflict. Here's a few measures you can take: Continue reading