Wednesday, May 8th 2019
Crypto Exchange Binance Hacked, $40M+ Stolen in Bitcoin
This is a pretty high-profile heist, as heist come, since Binance is actually the rworld's biggest crypto exxchange in terms of traded volume. The act was reported by Binance as a well-conducted orchestra, with hackers using seemingly unconnected accounts at the most opportune time to achieve a single, high-value withdrawal of $41M (roughly 7,000 Bitcoin at current pricing) - only 2% of Binance's total value in their so-called "hot wallet".
The hackers also took away with several information on users' accounts: a large number of user API keys, 2FA codes, and "potentially other info" were taken besides the cool $41M in Bitcoin. Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao warned that the hackers could still be controlling enough relevant accounts that could allow them to influence pricing and make even more money.
Sources:
Binance, TechSpot
The hackers also took away with several information on users' accounts: a large number of user API keys, 2FA codes, and "potentially other info" were taken besides the cool $41M in Bitcoin. Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao warned that the hackers could still be controlling enough relevant accounts that could allow them to influence pricing and make even more money.
26 Comments on Crypto Exchange Binance Hacked, $40M+ Stolen in Bitcoin
No exceptions.
Still a long way from people grasping this concept it seems.
Couldn't help myself. Nice memes.
Hardware or paper wallet is considered the gold standard for safety. But a well vetted software only wallet is still preferable to keeping coin on an exchange or Web wallet.
So, think BTC is just about same when it comes to safety.. Crypto is safer, especially some. Especially in cold wallet. Just not all crypto, just not one in hot wallet on exchange. :D
The economic value fluctiating like a rabid weasel doing hurdles doesn't help though...
It's called robbery.
At any rate, banks are insured is the difference. So you don't feel it. If properly mamaged a Bitcoin account is so secure it does not NEED insurance.
It's not witchcraft to manage it properly either. This is how you do it:
1.) Get your keys
2.) Never share your keys No, usually not. The exchange usually ends up financially liable, and goes bankrupt.
This is a relatively small amount compared to the $500 to $900+ million dollar transactions we can see on the blockchain in the past year. (which cost under $1 to move o_O)
Can we go find all the posts where it was "unhackable" cause buzzwords like distributed, block chain, encrypted and other crap was tossed around like it were gospel. Anything can be undone, hacked, broken.
Every hacker worth their "salt" has tried, private & state sponsored.
Understanding how blockchain itself works discourages hacking the protocol.
Bitcoin is an engineered solution, so engineers keep improving it as new threats arise.
Or this: arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/10/wave-of-cyber-bank-heists-in-former-soviet-states-netted-40m-in-real-cash/
Or this: www.theverge.com/2018/11/8/18075124/north-korea-lazarus-atm-fastcash-hack-millions-dollars-stolen
another: www.securityweek.com/millions-stolen-russian-indian-banks-swift-attacks
Plenty of others in the $5 mil+ range.
You can store crypto safely - sure. But it gets very exposed when you use it.
It's like saying that cash is safe because you can keep it in a safe. But you need to get it out and carry around to actually use it for something, right?
The whole point of banking security is that money is enclosed in a secure environment that is used for both storing and transfers. Money is protected all the time, not just then "backed up".
You're oversimplifying this saying that cryptos are secure because blockchain is secure. Money safety is about so much more than just database technology. This "so much more" just doesn't exist in the crypto space.
Banks would be just as bad and money would be lost all the time if they weren't controlled and regulated like they are today. Well, you would think so. Not your bitcoin, but maybe still your problem?
What if it's your employer's money and you're let go tomorrow?
What if it's your friend's money? You've lent him some money few days ago, but it seems he won't be able to give it back.
What if the nearby shop losts their bitcoin and closed down, so you have to walk extra 500m to the next one to buy milk?
It's not really about YOUR money. It's about money in general: about stability of economy.
As @R-T-B's said: it's about money being there at the end of the day. All the money. In the regulated system we have today money kept in banks stays there - aside from financial crises, obviously.
The frequency of incidents with cryptos is absurdly high. And it's a much smaller market as well. Yeah, if only some people would be as willing to grasp the concept of money and banking (that they criticize) as eagerly as they praise cryptos...
maybe on the way up again.. he he..
trog