Bitcoin Extortion Hits Israeli Businesses, Forced to Pay to Remove Virus

In its print paper today, Israeli newspaper, Yediot Achronot is reporting that local firms have been hit with an online extortion campaign by what is believed to be foreign hackers. According to the paper, firms were hit with a virus that locked employees from being able to access files on the servers. Upon loading a file they received a popup stating that they would have to pay a sum of $500 or more in bitcoins to unlock their database.

The paper went on to report that after paying the extortion, firms received a password that allowed them to access their files. Representatives of affected companies quoted in the article stated to the Yediot that “it was like from the movies” and attempts to remove the virus were unsuccessful and.

Quoted in the article is Bits of Gold CEO, Jonathan Rouach who stated that they were approached by 15 firms to Exchange Exchange An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv Read this Term cash into bitcoins to pay the extortion, with conversions of $500 and $1000 being made. He added that his firm was helping affected companies handle the virus by offering free conversions and communicating with the police. A representative from Israel’s police was quoted in the paper as stating “The case is known to Israel Police, and to other enforcement agencies around the world. The police view this as a severe form of blackmail and attempt to threaten civilians using illegal entry to computers.”

The blackmail is believed to be the first broad campaign of its kind taking place in Israel. Due to its pseudo-anonymity, the use of bitcoins to collect ransom Payments Payments One of the bases of mediums of exchange in the modern world, a payment constitutes the transfer of a legal currency or equivalent from one party in exchange for goods or services to another entity. The payments industry has become a fixture of modern commerce, though the players involved and means of exchange have dramatically shifted over time.In particular, a party making a payment is referred to as a payer, with the payee reflecting the individual or entity receiving the payment. Most commonl One of the bases of mediums of exchange in the modern world, a payment constitutes the transfer of a legal currency or equivalent from one party in exchange for goods or services to another entity. The payments industry has become a fixture of modern commerce, though the players involved and means of exchange have dramatically shifted over time.In particular, a party making a payment is referred to as a payer, with the payee reflecting the individual or entity receiving the payment. Most commonl Read this Term makes it harder for authorities to track such transfers.

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