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If you thought the month was going to be quiet, you clearly underestimated the internet’s ability to resurrect decade old controversies and annoy law enforcement in entirely new ways.
Let’s start with a true crypto classic: Silk Road.
Yes, that Silk Road, the Tor based marketplace launched in 2011 by Ross Ulbricht, shut down by the FBI in 2013, and followed by a legal saga so extreme it still makes civil libertarians wince. Ross was handed two life sentences without parole at the age of 26, aided by a deeply questionable murder for hire narrative that continues to raise eyebrows to this day.
Fast forward through a decade long “Free Ross” campaign, a Trump pardon last year, and suddenly we’re asking the question law enforcement hoped would never resurface: Did they actually find all the Bitcoin?
According to Coinbase director Conor Grogan, roughly 430 BTC, currently worth about £27 million, remains linked to dormant Silk Road wallets that Ross may still control. These wallets had been sitting quietly, minding their own business, until December 10th, when 176 transactions fired off in under four hours. Casual.
Ross, speaking from prison, has previously promised he’d never break the law again if released. Which is great. Unfortunately for the authorities, Bitcoin moving ≠ laws being broken, just nerves being shattered. One imagines the feds aren’t thrilled watching digital money they’d very much like to confiscate suddenly start stretching its legs. If that Bitcoin gets laundered properly, it’ll be about as traceable as their original crypto expertise circa 2013.
Speaking of law enforcement frustration, let’s talk GrapheneOS.
This privacy focused operating system, running exclusively on Google Pixel phones, is estimated to be used by 250,000 to 400,000 people worldwide. The number is fuzzy because, and brace yourself, it doesn’t collect telemetry or usage data. Imagine building tech that doesn’t spy on its users. Radical.
Sure, that’s tiny compared to the billions glued to Android and iOS, but GrapheneOS has carved out a loyal following among privacy advocates and cybersecurity professionals. Unfortunately, it’s also carved out a migraine for law enforcement.
Their favourite digital forensics toy, Cellebrite, can’t crack these devices. Tragic. As a result, agencies across Europe and the US have begun profiling Pixel users, suggesting that criminals must obviously be choosing secure phones on purpose. Because heaven forbid regular people want privacy too.
Earlier this month, things escalated. GrapheneOS announced it was shutting down all operations in France, citing outrageously false and unsubstantiated claims made by French law enforcement, claims that were then happily laundered through state and corporate media as fact. The project says it was never given the opportunity to respond.
So, to recap:
- Old Bitcoin is waking up
- Privacy tech is doing its job
- Law enforcement is… not coping well
Honestly, if this is the future, it’s going to be a very entertaining one.
https://breachaware.com/research/dark-web-admin-exposed-trident-ransomware-strikes-and-airbus-issues-critical-patch
A total of 34 breach events were found and analysed resulting in 6,558,157 exposed accounts containing a total of 39 different data types of personal datum. The breaches found publicly and freely available included ULP 0037, Stealer Log 0549, Stealer Log 0548, Ekonika and 123 Casting.
Dark Web Busts, CLOP Hits Ivy League & Global Exploits Erupt.
https://breachaware.com/research/dark-web-busts-cl0p-hits-ivy-league-and-global-exploits-erupt
A total of 7 breach events were found and analysed resulting in 342,933 exposed accounts containing a total of 19 different data types of personal datum. The breaches found publicly and freely available included Queen Mary University of London, France Casse, Artists and Clients, Refer Life and e-Retail.
Ransomware Slumps, RaidForums Relaunches & VAS Crackdown Success.
https://breachaware.com/research/ransomware-slumps-raidforums-relaunches-and-vas-crackdown-success
A total of 17 breach events were found and analysed resulting in 2,686,286 exposed accounts containing a total of 30 different data types of personal datum. The breaches found publicly and freely available included France Travail, Miljodata, Corporate Mails Dump, 1 Million Pholoniex Email List [Sample] and Emirates Philatelic Association - EPA.
Forums Get Doxed, RaidForums Speedruns Death & Microsoft Blinks.
https://breachaware.com/research/forums-get-doxed-raidforums-speedruns-death-and-microsoft-blinks
A total of 12 breach events were found and analysed resulting in 6,036,789 exposed accounts containing a total of 54 different data types of personal datum. The breaches found publicly and freely available included ULP Alien Txt File - Episode 29, Venezuela Citizen Databases, Turing, Webové Stránky and WithPropel.
Let’s start with a true crypto classic: Silk Road.
Yes, that Silk Road, the Tor based marketplace launched in 2011 by Ross Ulbricht, shut down by the FBI in 2013, and followed by a legal saga so extreme it still makes civil libertarians wince. Ross was handed two life sentences without parole at the age of 26, aided by a deeply questionable murder for hire narrative that continues to raise eyebrows to this day.
Fast forward through a decade long “Free Ross” campaign, a Trump pardon last year, and suddenly we’re asking the question law enforcement hoped would never resurface: Did they actually find all the Bitcoin?
According to Coinbase director Conor Grogan, roughly 430 BTC, currently worth about £27 million, remains linked to dormant Silk Road wallets that Ross may still control. These wallets had been sitting quietly, minding their own business, until December 10th, when 176 transactions fired off in under four hours. Casual.
Ross, speaking from prison, has previously promised he’d never break the law again if released. Which is great. Unfortunately for the authorities, Bitcoin moving ≠ laws being broken, just nerves being shattered. One imagines the feds aren’t thrilled watching digital money they’d very much like to confiscate suddenly start stretching its legs. If that Bitcoin gets laundered properly, it’ll be about as traceable as their original crypto expertise circa 2013.
Speaking of law enforcement frustration, let’s talk GrapheneOS.
This privacy focused operating system, running exclusively on Google Pixel phones, is estimated to be used by 250,000 to 400,000 people worldwide. The number is fuzzy because, and brace yourself, it doesn’t collect telemetry or usage data. Imagine building tech that doesn’t spy on its users. Radical.
Sure, that’s tiny compared to the billions glued to Android and iOS, but GrapheneOS has carved out a loyal following among privacy advocates and cybersecurity professionals. Unfortunately, it’s also carved out a migraine for law enforcement.
Their favourite digital forensics toy, Cellebrite, can’t crack these devices. Tragic. As a result, agencies across Europe and the US have begun profiling Pixel users, suggesting that criminals must obviously be choosing secure phones on purpose. Because heaven forbid regular people want privacy too.
Earlier this month, things escalated. GrapheneOS announced it was shutting down all operations in France, citing outrageously false and unsubstantiated claims made by French law enforcement, claims that were then happily laundered through state and corporate media as fact. The project says it was never given the opportunity to respond.
So, to recap:
- Old Bitcoin is waking up
- Privacy tech is doing its job
- Law enforcement is… not coping well
Honestly, if this is the future, it’s going to be a very entertaining one.
Smarter Protection Starts with Awareness
Data Breach Scan, Check Any Domain for Free https://breachaware.com/scanThis months cyber spotlight, vulnerability chat & privacy headlines.
Dark Web Admin Exposed, Trident Ransomware Strikes & Airbus Issues Critical Patch.https://breachaware.com/research/dark-web-admin-exposed-trident-ransomware-strikes-and-airbus-issues-critical-patch
A total of 34 breach events were found and analysed resulting in 6,558,157 exposed accounts containing a total of 39 different data types of personal datum. The breaches found publicly and freely available included ULP 0037, Stealer Log 0549, Stealer Log 0548, Ekonika and 123 Casting.
Dark Web Busts, CLOP Hits Ivy League & Global Exploits Erupt.
https://breachaware.com/research/dark-web-busts-cl0p-hits-ivy-league-and-global-exploits-erupt
A total of 7 breach events were found and analysed resulting in 342,933 exposed accounts containing a total of 19 different data types of personal datum. The breaches found publicly and freely available included Queen Mary University of London, France Casse, Artists and Clients, Refer Life and e-Retail.
Ransomware Slumps, RaidForums Relaunches & VAS Crackdown Success.
https://breachaware.com/research/ransomware-slumps-raidforums-relaunches-and-vas-crackdown-success
A total of 17 breach events were found and analysed resulting in 2,686,286 exposed accounts containing a total of 30 different data types of personal datum. The breaches found publicly and freely available included France Travail, Miljodata, Corporate Mails Dump, 1 Million Pholoniex Email List [Sample] and Emirates Philatelic Association - EPA.
Forums Get Doxed, RaidForums Speedruns Death & Microsoft Blinks.
https://breachaware.com/research/forums-get-doxed-raidforums-speedruns-death-and-microsoft-blinks
A total of 12 breach events were found and analysed resulting in 6,036,789 exposed accounts containing a total of 54 different data types of personal datum. The breaches found publicly and freely available included ULP Alien Txt File - Episode 29, Venezuela Citizen Databases, Turing, Webové Stránky and WithPropel.
