The Perennial Tug of War Between the US SEC and CFTC – Are Crypto Assets “Securities” or “Commodities”?

Colleagues, the fraudulent representation or claim of a “security” or “commodity” in the US can be tired as a federal or a state level crime. Nevertheless, fraud is fraud. So ruled a district judge regarding the cryptocurrency My Big Coin Pay scam. Co-defendants Mark Gillespie and Randall Crater are alleged to have use investments – categorized as commodities - in My Big Coin Pay for personal use and gain. Sovereign nations, their governments and court systems around the world are struggling to regulate digital assets. One of the foremost dilemmas is whether cryptocurrencies are securities or commodities. To outsiders the distinction may appear meaningless, however, to government regulators and the exchanges upon which these assets are traded the difference in critical. In the US, the issue will ultimately depend upon the decisions of the judicial system along with the US SEC and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Although the issue of My Big Coin Pay may be decided for now, the much larger issue will likely not be resolved at the federal level for another 2-3 years. Share a comment while visiting us today! Lawrence – Cyber Security Defender (https://cybersecuritydefender.blogspot.com/)  

US SEC Cyber Unit Sues PlexCoin Founders for Illicit Cryptocurrency Scheme

Colleagues, the promise of a 13-fold appreciation in one month lies at the core of the US SEC’s lawsuit against PlexCoin co-founders Sabrina Paradis-Royer and Dominic Lacroix. The defendants are charged with an illicit PlexCoin ICO scheme. Although fraudulent ICOs are not a daily occurrence, they are far too common. Moreover, they represent one more reason why the US SEC – and its counterparts abroad – are reluctant to classify cryptocurrencies as legitimate “securities” tradeable on leading stock exchanges. That is why even the most prominent digital assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple and the like are confined to crypto only exchanges like BitFinex, Binance and Huobi. Bottom line: We predict that within 24-36 months the US SEC will define and implement a strict framework for regulating cryptocurrencies and allowing only those assets, which meet the most stringent requirements bona fide “securities” status. As we continuously stress crypto investors must perform their due diligence and are urged to stay with proven currencies traded on legitimate exchanges. Post a comment today! Lawrence – Cryptocurrency Academy (https://cryptocurrencyacademy.blogspot.com/)  

Cybercrime involving $60m in Zaif crypto exchange raises yet another red flag concerning security

Colleagues, Zaif is a small cryptocurrency exchange based in Japan. Although Zaif on ranks as the 45^th largest exchange based upon daily trading volume by CoinMarketCap, a crypto theft worth $60m USD is reason for concern. The exchange processed some $43B per day in cryptocurrencies. The Japanese Financial Services Authority (FSA) is investing this cybercrime and questioning why Tech Bureau – Zaif’s parent company – waited several days to report this incident. Bottom line: Whether this was an “inside job” by a disgruntled Tech Bureau employee or an external cyber-attack is unknown at this time. What we do know is two-fold. First, Japan is an early adopter and supporter of cryptocurrencies. Second, there has been a meteoric rise in the number and value of cybercrimes specifically targeting crypto exchanges during the past two years. Where possible, we highly recommend that crypto traders and investors alike perform their due diligence and stay with top tier exchanges such as BitForex, BitMEX, Binance, OKex and Huobi. Post a comment while visiting us today! Lawrence – Cyber Security Defender (https://cybersecuritydefender.blogspot.com/)  

Cyber Threat Alliance Confirms a 400% Spike in Cryptojacking Mining Attacks from 2017 to 2018

Colleagues, although the numbers are alarming they also confirm what many of us assumed to be true. Cyber-attacks focused on cryptocurrency mining (aka “cryptojacking”) has sky rocketed by some 400% YoY between 2017 and 2018. As reported by the CTA entitled “The Illicit Cryptocurrency Mining Threat” indicates that EternalBlue, perhaps the world’s most pervasive cyber-attack in history, targets Microsoft’s Server Message Block (SMB) protocol via port 445 is the leading culprit. Researchers suspect that North Korea is the likely source behind EternalBlue’s root cause – the infamous WannaCry ransomware. Bottom line: The global crypto ecosystem continues to be the most common target of cybercrime, which ultimately serves to thwart mass market adoption of cryptocurrencies. Crypto ecosystem members need closer ties and cooperation with their cyber security peers in order to mitigate the relentless rise in cryptojacking is cryptocurrencies are to move to the mainstream.  Post a comment while visiting us today! Lawrence – Cyber Security Defender (https://cybersecuritydefender.blogspot.com/) 

CVE Report for Bitcoin Core Revealed a Security Flaw that Could Bring Down Part of the Network

Colleagues, the recent Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures Report (CVE-2018-17144 Full Disclosure) states, “a fix for which was released on September 18th in Bitcoin Core versions 0.16.3 and 0.17.0rc4, includes both a Denial of Service component and a critical inflation vulnerability”. A cybercriminal exploited this bug to create new Bitcoin, which in turn would have deflated Bitcoin value by increasing the supply of the currency above the 21 million hard-cap. Matt Corallo, Bitcoin Core developer and Chaincode engineer acknowledged that if this bug has gone undetected someone could have launched a cyber-attack to print an unlimited number of BTCs. According to CoinMarketCap, global Bitcoin market capitalization exceeds $115.6B USD far outpacing Ethereum, which is valued at $24.6 USD. Bottom line: The world’s most valuable (and popular) cryptocurrency is prone to vulnerabilities and is subject to cyber crime. This is just one reason why regulators such as the US SEC question is legitimacy as a financial “security”. Post a comment while visiting us today! Lawrence – Cyber Security Defender (https://cybersecuritydefender.blogspot.com/)  

The Spector of $2b in 2018 Cyber Crime Targeting Cryptocurrencies Threatens Market Adoption

Colleagues, according to CoinMarketCap the worldwide market capitalization for digital assets reached some $760b in December 2017 and currently hoover around $240b. Coindesk reports that the Japanese market lost $540m due to crypto crime in H1 2018. Globally, cyber security firm Carbon Black has confirmed $1.1b worth of cryptocurrencies were stolen in the same time period. The numbers are alarming, they continue to grow and represent the single largest threat to the market adoption of cryptocurrencies across the global economy. Conventional malware, fraudulent ICOs, attacks on crypto exchanges and crypto jacking which targets mining vendors and pools tops the list of cybercrime tactics. We offer two basic conclusions: First, it is highly likely that crypto theft will top $2b around the world in 2018. Second, the rise in cybercrime focused on digital assets heightens the concern of government regulators in the US and abroad that cryptocurrencies should not be categorized as legitimate “securities”. These factors are major barriers to adoption across the crypto ecosystem. We do believe that digital assets will take 2-3 years to cross the chasm from truly speculative investments to viable securities traded on market stock exchanges … foremost the US NASDAQ. Post a comment while visiting us today! Lawrence – Cyber Security Defender (https://cybersecuritydefender.blogspot.com/)  

Issuing fraudulent investments is the latest cyber security risk to the cryptocurrency ecosystem

Colleagues, the US Texas Securities Commission has issued cease and desist orders against three offshore entities suspected of issuing fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes. The orders target Ultimate Assets LLC, DigitalBank Ltd. and Coins Miner Investment Ltd.  All three entities purport to represent Coinbase, a prominent U.S. crypto exchange. The charges stem from crypto and forex trading services, false claims of meeting with the president of Ripple and soliciting funds to develop a claimed secure crypto wallet. Bottom line: The global crypto ecosystem is under siege from cyber criminals on all fronts. The three firms identified above a just the latest in a long list of bad actors targeting crypto investors, wallets, exchanges and underlying Blockchain technology. The most common motive across these nefarious actions is financial gain. We have and will continue to warn legitimate players in the crypto ecosystem to take major security and human factors measures to protect their business concerns. Send a comment while visiting us today! Lawrence – Cyber Security Defender (https://cybersecuritydefender.blogspot.com/)  

Can Fbot Help Prevent Crypto Mining Cyber Attacks by Destroying “com.ufo.miner” Malware?

Colleagues, we have extensively reported on the dramatic rise in crypto mining cyber-attacks in 2018 that have plagued the crypto ecosystem. Enter Fbot. Security researchers are unclear if Fbot is a friend or foe with regard to crypto mining. However, they have confirmed that Fbot is designed to propagate, scan and install itself over “com.ufo.miner“ malware which targets vulnerable browser software. According to NetLab 360, com.ufo.miner has its origins in monero ADB Miner Android-based software. At first glance, it would appear that Fbot might be a tool of unknown origin, which can reduce browser vulnerability to cyber-attacks. The key question is whether Fbot has an ulterior motive – that is to destroy com.ufo.miner and clear the path for another form of crypto mining malware to be installed in its place. Share a comment while visiting us today! Lawrence – Cyber Security Defender (https://cybersecuritydefender.blogspot.com/)  

Dark Web Security Vulnerabilities Lie at the Center of AlphaBay Crypto Fraud

Colleagues, we all know that the cryptocurrency ecosystem is a high-value target for cyber criminals worldwide. Nowhere is this more evident than the recent seizure of some $8.8m USD in cryptocurrencies along with another $14m of tangible assets from deceased cyber criminals Alexandre Cazes. Operating from Thailand Cazes amassed over 1,600 Bitcoins and another 8,300 Ethereum tokens from his illicit AlphaBay empire. A US Magistrate ordered this seizure with the aid of Thai officials. AlphaBay is believed to have its origins in the defunct dark web Silk Road platform. Bottom line: Crypto investors small and large are reminded that their assets are at from cybercrime and need to maintain the highest level of security. We recommend once again that investors and traders alike only engage with established and proven crypto exchanges, wallets, infrastructure providers and custodian service providers. Cyber criminals are relentless and crypto investors must be as well. Share your assessment while visiting us today! Lawrence – Cyber Security Defender (https://cybersecuritydefender.blogspot.com/) 

Is a security breach of a defunct Mt. Gox crypto wallet responsible for the movement of $720m Bitcoin?

Colleagues, a Mt Gox wallet worth some $720 is the prime suspect in the movement of up to $720 Bitcoin since the Japanese exchange went out of business in 2014. To date some $100m has been transferred from this anonymous wallet to the Binance and Bitfinex exchanges. While some experts believe this infamous wallet is linked to the Dark Web’s Silk Road portal, most evidence points to the defunct Mt Gox exchange. Two fundamental questions arise. First, who (or whom) controls this wallet? Second, what is their motive? Numerous theories are floating across the global cryptosphere. Nonetheless, given the fact that Mt Gox was founded in 2010 – the very early days of cryptocurrencies – there is a high likelihood that the funds contained on this wallet were (and perhaps still are) being used for drug trafficking, payment for contraband and/or to evade trans-border trade sanctions. Our goal is to present facts not idle speculation; however, we are confident that the movement of these funds is due to some form of cybercrime. As such, we will add this topic to our crypto-cyber “watch list”. Share your assessment while visiting us today! Lawrence – Cyber Security Defender (https://cybersecuritydefender.blogspot.com/)