bitcoin ransom

Berlin

2026-08-31 08:09:57

Berlin city government reportedly hit with 30 BTC extortion demand after cyberattack

Berlin’s city government is facing an apparent extortion attempt after a cyberattack reported two weeks ago, according to ZEIT. Der Spiegel said the attackers are suspected to be Rhysida, a hacking group that has been active for years, and that they demanded 30 BTC, worth about 2 million euros, while threatening to publish stolen data. Reported sensitive information may include traffic violation processing records and passwords. The Berlin state government has not confirmed the scope of any data leak and has not responded to the reported ransom amount or the identity of the attackers, saying it cannot comment for investigative reasons. Berlin mayor Kai Wegner said the city will not give in to extortion. The main impact was reported in the transport and construction administration departments, which were temporarily cut off from the state government network after the incident.

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U.S. Departme

2026-08-20 23:50:59

U.S. charges 17 alleged Iran-linked hackers over years-long cyber campaign and HBO bitcoin ransom case

The U.S. Department of Justice has charged 17 hackers allegedly tied to Iran’s Mabna Institute, according to Decrypt, accusing them of taking part in a multi-year cyber campaign that included the 2017 breach of U.S. cable network HBO. Prosecutors said the group stole data and then demanded roughly $6 million in Bitcoin as ransom. The indictment says the alleged operation worked on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian government clients. Targets allegedly included hundreds of universities, companies, and government institutions around the world. Prosecutors said the campaign led to the theft of at least 31.5 terabytes of academic data and intellectual property. Authorities also said the group targeted more than 100,000 professor accounts globally and compromised about 8,000 accounts across 144 U.S. universities and 178 foreign universities. The U.S. State Department is offering up to $10 million for information on the whereabouts of five of the defendants. The report also said the Treasury Department in recent months sanctioned multiple Iranian crypto exchanges and froze more than $131 million in crypto assets linked to Iran’s central bank and the IRGC.

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Iranian hacke

2026-08-20 20:27:54

U.S. charges 17 Iranians in hacking campaign tied to $6 million bitcoin extortion attempt

The U.S. Department of Justice said Tuesday that 17 Iranian nationals have been charged over an alleged long-running cyber campaign tied to the Mabna Institute, a group prosecutors say worked on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian government and university clients. The case spans attacks on hundreds of U.S. and international universities, dozens of companies, and at least five state and federal agencies. Part of the indictment revisits the previously charged HBO hack involving Behzad Mesri, who prosecutors said stole proprietary data from the entertainment company and then tried to extort roughly $6 million in bitcoin. Five additional defendants — Saeid Houshyar, Manouchehr Hashemloo, Keyvan Fayaz, Saber Shahbazi Ballojeh, and Arman Kahzadian — were described as directly involved in that breach. The State Department’s Rewards for Justice program is offering up to $10 million for information on the defendants’ whereabouts. Prosecutors also said the stolen research was resold through Megapaper.ir and Gigapaper.ir, with the latter renting compromised professor credentials to Iranian users. U.S. institutions had spent about $3.4 billion to acquire the stolen material, while separate victims incurred more than $20 million in remediation costs.

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Chainalysis

2026-08-06 12:03:03

Chainalysis Says Crypto Wrench Attacks Are Heading for a Record Year After $30 Million in Losses

Physical attacks against cryptocurrency holders are accelerating in 2026, with blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis estimating that more than $30 million was stolen in the first half of the year alone. In a report published Thursday, the firm documented 46 violent incidents through late June, ranging from kidnappings to home invasions and hostage situations. Chainalysis said these so-called "wrench attacks" target people who control assets that can be transferred instantly and irreversibly. The report found that kidnappings remain the most common form of attack, while home invasions are taking a larger share, rising to 37% of documented cases from 26% in 2023. It also said attackers are increasingly pressuring victims by targeting family members and acquaintances. France recorded 30 incidents through mid-2026, the highest total of any country, and Chainalysis linked the rise there to an alleged tax-record breach that exposed information about wealthy crypto holders. Chainalysis also described a split in attacker sophistication. Some moved stolen funds straight to centralized exchanges, while others used decentralized exchanges, bridges, MEV bots, and other DeFi tools to obscure the trail. The report arrives as related cases continue to mount across Europe and the U.S.

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Bitcoin ranso

2026-07-02 14:00:14

Bitcoin Ransom Demand Emerges in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance: Police Urge Caution Over Possible Hoax

The disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, has taken a dramatic turn after a purported bitcoin ransom note surfaced demanding millions of dollars for her safe return. TMZ reported receiving the note with a verified wallet address, but authorities emphasize the note's authenticity remains unconfirmed. The case highlights how high-profile kidnappings can attract opportunistic scammers using cryptocurrency. The investigation continues with FBI involvement, while Savannah Guthrie has taken leave from her TV duties to focus on the search.

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