A Bounty To Chase A Blackmailer Essay Example
A Bounty To Chase A Blackmailer Essay Example

A Bounty To Chase A Blackmailer Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (904 words)
  • Published: July 1, 2018
  • Type: Article
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The man known as "The Bitcoin Jesus" chose to rely on bitcoin's power instead of seeking help from the police after being hacked.

Roger Ver, a prominent figure in the global bitcoin community, had his old Hotmail account hacked. The hacker gained access to this account and obtained personal information belonging to Roger Ver, including his Social Security number, passport number, and other private details.

The hacker threatened to exploit this information unless Ver paid 37 bitcoins, equivalent to $20,000.

Nevertheless, Ver used the same quantity of bitcoins to provide a reward for the hacker, causing an immediate transformation of the bold cyber criminal into a remorseful puppet.

The hacker expressed remorse to Ver, explaining that he simply acted on instructions and inquired if Ver would consider hiring a hitman to cause him harm. Ver, renowned for advocating bitcoin as a way to b

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reak free from government and financial institutions, has now elevated the cryptocurrency's libertarian credibility by putting forth a bounty of 37 bitcoins.

According to Ver, the use of digital currency goes beyond simply storing and transferring money without authority involvement. It also serves as a means to seek justice, as demonstrated in the Skype chat logs Ver shared, documenting his conversation with the hacker. While it is possible to offer rewards using other currencies, bitcoin seems particularly fitting for this purpose.

'This Won't Be Pleasant'
The hacker, known as Nitrous, Savaged, and Clerk1337 among others, contacted Ver and Jason Maurice, the chief hacking officer of Wiz Technologies. Ver and Maurice were already working to regain control of multiple online accounts that had been seized by the hacker. Ver is convinced that the hacker acted alone.

Nitrous gained control

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over a Hotmail account previously owned by Ver. It seems he used public information to answer the security questions of the email service. After gaining access, Nitrous used the account to seize control of the domain name "memorydealers.com," which is used for Ver's computer parts business. Around 15 years ago, Ver registered the domain using the Hotmail address. By taking control over the address, Nitrous managed to take over the domain through Ver's domain name registrar, Register.com.

Nitrous gained control of the account and acquired personal details about Ver's mother, including his passport number and Social Security number. Nitrous then threatened to sell this information to malicious individuals who would cause harm to both Ver and his mother's lives. In exchange for protecting their well-being, Nitrous demanded 37.63289114 bitcoins, which is equivalent to $20,000.

Nitrous acknowledged that both parties are aware of the unpleasantness of the situation and recognized the lack of understanding between them. Nitrous highlighted his extensive experience, emphasizing his presence in the field for a significant period. Additionally, Nitrous expressed nostalgic admiration for Ver, considering him not just as a user but also as a symbol of Bitcoin. Ver, who has previously engaged in political campaigns under the Libertarian Party, is renowned globally as one of the most influential and outspoken supporters and investors in Bitcoin.

Ver, the person who discovered bitcoin in 2011 and has since traveled around the world to speak at conferences about the digital currency, has expressed support for different startups like Blockchain, Bitpay, and Ripple by using his bitcoins. Although Ver does not disclose the exact number of bitcoins he owns, Nitrous believes that a $20,000 blackmail attempt would

not have a major impact on him due to his early involvement with bitcoin.

Nitrous did not reply to inquiries from WIRED. However, in the chat transcript given by Ver, the hacker asserted to have hacked tween internet sensation LOHANTHONY as well as random-fact-Tweeter UberFacts.

Bitcoin Justice After Nitrous successfully hacked Ver, the bitcoin enthusiast attempted to delay him. Nitrous became increasingly impatient after an hour of taunting and negotiations, threatening to harm Ver even more. In a derogatory manner, Nitrous referred to Ver as a "fag".

"My mom needs a liver transplant and it costs $15,000, man. I apologize, but I have no choice," Nitrous said. In response, Ver shared a link to a Facebook post that offered a 37-bitcoin reward for any information that would help capture Nitrous. Upon seeing this, Nitrous quickly changed his stance and retreated.

To clarify, Ver did not offer a reward for catching Nitrous. He simply stated that he would pay the money once Nitrous is apprehended for hacking his accounts.

However, the Silk Road online drug marketplace and the bankrupt Mt. Gox bitcoin exchange have led even criminals to reconsider their involvement with bitcoin due to its questionable associations.

Ver has not disclosed whether he has reached out to authorities, but in the unregulated world of bitcoin, offering a reward like this seems to be an appropriate course of action. Ver states that he does not have much trust in government police but hopes that they are able to apprehend the criminal.

Around ten years ago, Ver's business, which involved reselling computer parts, experienced a burglary resulting in the theft of approximately $1 million worth of goods.

After tracing the serial numbers of the parts, he located them in Los Angeles about a month later. Despite informing multiple police agencies about the recovery of his stolen merchandise, none of them offered any assistance.

According to Ver, he hasn't caused any trouble since obtaining a new password for his Hotmail account through Nitrous's bounty. Ver mentioned that he never received any of his previous account information back.

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