Cryptocurrency is no the enabler of ransomware. Ransomware was prevalent before cryptocurrencies. The real enablers of ransomware are the countries that shelter the R10 groups, raking in millions.
There's a reason some ransomware doesn't run when your system has a Russian language keyboard, and it's not because they know Russians never pay ransom...
This meme really needs to die. It's driving me more and more insane every time I read it. Ransomware may have existed previously but it was nowhere nearly as prevalent before cryptocurrencies came around. It is not a mere coincidence of the cosmos that almost every single darn time (I think literally 98% of the time, as of 2019) ransomware infects someone's machine, it demands payment in Bitcoin. There is a clear relationship there for a very good reason. I cannot fathom how otherwise logical people can see these with their own eyes and yet somehow blind themselves to the obvious connection.
And if you need this from an authoritative mouth because it isn't already clear as daylight... "Cryptocurrency is one of the single enabling factors that allows cybercriminals to deploy a massive amount of ransomware across state and local agencies", said Christopher Krebs. [1]
[1] https://www.rsaconference.com/library/blog/how-cryptocurrenc...
Two other reasons can explain the increase in ransomware, that merely correlate with the rise of cryptocurrencies:
1) The innovation of encrypting files hadn't occurred to ransomware operators yet.
2) The value of computer systems, and data, itself increased. Massively increasing the likelihood of victims paying the ransom.
Before crypto currencies 'FBI scareware', which held your computer ransom by disabling your standard UI, simply asked you fork over the cash via Western Union.
This increases the friction for consumers, but if the colonial pipeline was ransomed in the same way, and the ransom only payable over WU, then they would have done that instead.
As if WU and crypto don't have very different KYC requirements (as in - none for crypto)
There was and always will be a crime, and criminal will find a way to make money and scale it if they can.
And yes, who would have thought that running useless hash functions on your computer could have enormous global externalities?
Compute what you like on your own computer, but sending the results is intentionally participating in a worldwide crimewave and environmental disaster.
So I should pay significantly more on my bills, just because you want to play with some virtual coins?
Cultural model. I don't feel like increasing the electricity price for everyone is a better solution.
> Cryptocurrency is no the enabler of ransomware. Ransomware was prevalent before cryptocurrencies. The real enablers of ransomware are the countries that shelter the R10 groups, raking in millions.
Cryptocurrency are a good catalyst. The first does not exclude the last. The "real enabler" is that fast growing systems are juicy and fragile.
> There's a reason some ransomware doesn't run when your system has a Russian language keyboard, and it's not because they know Russians never pay ransom...
Many nations have active "digital warfare" programs, which may or may not take the form of ransomware. I would not be surprised if some would masquerade themselves as Russians masquerading as Israelis masquerading as Frenchs to poke on China, if all it takes is to carefully check and act on keyboard mapping. Don't you dare touching the colemak users.
The problem is that other productive things are priced out before "mining".
The environmental cost will be born either way, but mining is by definition not productive. It has been profitable to some people, but it is destructive to civilisation altogether.
Of course, if this can be done without ongoing expenditure that would be better.
Yes, maybe because Russia wouldn't deal with that issue with "thoughts and prayers". On a completely unrelated subject nobody wants to wake up in a duffel bag.
I am a single computer miner but I only ever turn on my miner if I am net exporting back to the grid (solar).
Main reason here is that the money I get from the grid is ~25% what I pay on the way down and through mining its anywhere from 500-1200% for the amount of energy I am using.
If my energy company paid me more or there was infrastructure for me to sell my excess to my neighbours (such things exists in the world) then that would be appealing to me.
Why then?