Linode Exploit Caused Theft of Thousands of Bitcoins 450
Sabbetus writes "Popular web hosting service Linode had a serious exploit earlier today. Apparently the super admin password for their server management panel was leaked and allowed a malicious attacker to target multiple Bitcoin-related servers. The biggest loss happened to a major Bitcoin mining pool that lost over 3000 BTC, which is currently worth almost 15 000 USD. Now the question is, will Linode compensate for lost bitcoins?"
Update: The 3000 BTC theft was not even close to being the biggest, Bitcoin trading site Bitcoinica lost over 40,000 BTC.
oops (Score:5, Funny)
The greatest value of bitcoin (Score:5, Funny)
The greatest value of bitcoin seems to be in generating headlines.
Re:Don't you just LOVE an unregulated service (Score:5, Funny)
Really? Isn't the dream of librarians of that top button finally being released to expose the...
Oh wait, that's my dream of librarians.
Re:ToS (Score:3, Funny)
If Linode cares about Bitcoin, it will find a way to compensate its users. Otherwise, if the users who lost money are up to it, I'm sure there is at least one lawyer out there willing to be counsel on the first case involving theft of a digital currency, testing whether or not the data/rights to data stolen are legitimate property of legal value.
Out of principle, shouldn't the complainants only hire a lawyer who will agree to be paid in Bitcoins?
Awesome (Score:3, Funny)
Does this mean that we at least don't have to see anything about Raspberry Pie or Strawberry Jam, or whatever, for a few weeks?
Re:$15000 USD???? (Score:3, Funny)
Yes, you can do all of that with bitcoins. Just follow these steps:
1) you need to already have bitcoins. If you don't have any bitcoins, you can go to one of the sites that will convert dollars into bitcoins.
2) When you want to buy lunch/gas/videogame/whatever, go to one of the sites that will convert bitcoins into dollars, and convert your bitcoins to dollars.
How to covert bitcoins to hard currency (Score:5, Funny)
2. Hack in and steal bitcoins.
3. Sue for real money.
4. Profit!
Re:Newsflash (Score:5, Funny)
Re:tip of the ice berg - not even the real story! (Score:5, Funny)
secret back-door master password
Was the HACKER in question getting a BLOWJOB at the time while having a GUN pointed at his head?
Re:Newsflash (Score:5, Funny)
How does one destroy a bitcoin?
Storing it at linode seems a good start.
Re:Newsflash (Score:4, Funny)
Not quite. The casino sets the rules of the game, making sure they know EXACTLY what the odds are, thereby turning long-term profit into a statistical certainty. The insurer has to guess the odds, and can actually guess wrong, so there's a lot less certainty. That's why there are reinsurers, who insure the insurers against unexpectedly large payouts.
Re:Newsflash (Score:4, Funny)
Where would you like those emailed?
Re:Newsflash (Score:5, Funny)
That would be an interesting claim to file. "They stole my bits! I demand that you replace them."
The RIAA, MPAA and Microsoft have been doing it for years now.
Re:oops (Score:5, Funny)
It has been said that on the internet, comedy is tragedy that ends in the words "And then I lost my bitcoins".
Thankyou randoids, thank you once again for proving that in the world there are people more comically thoughtless than I.
Re:$15000 USD???? (Score:4, Funny)
Dear god your office sounds horrible, and you must live in an insufferable city. If my coworkers wanted to settle a check with bitcoins, I'd lobby to get them fired. Do they all like Ron Paul too?
Re:oops (Score:5, Funny)
You accidentally all your bitcoins? :)
Re:$15000 USD???? (Score:5, Funny)
You can also conduct all manner of black market trade with Bitcoin. Drugs, guns, prostitutes, all on the table.
I would really like to see the prostitute who takes bitcoins.
No, on second thought, I would really not like to see the prostitute who takes bitcoins.
Re:Newsflash (Score:2, Funny)
I've personally had CC fraud where someone ordered many Palm Pilot unit under my name and shipped them elsewhere. When I reported it to my bank, they simply stated it would be handled and taken care of. Not too worry they said. Well, I didn't worry and everything seemed like it was swept under the rung.
What did you expect the bank to do? Send you and some bank staff on a dramatic thrill-ride as they pursue credit card fraudsters through the Moscow Metro, pausing occasionally to exchange bullets and witty one-liners with vacationing Yakuza?
Fraud has to be handled very sensitively, not least of all because it can result in criminal or civil proceedings. It makes sense to keep specifics of a case and the processes on a need-to-know basis. Fraud is a cost of doing business, and in "normal" incidents, there's no point in alarming customer unnecessarily. If my card gets abused, all I want to know is what I'm liable for and what I need to do to prevent this from happening again?