Nabil Luqman

0f9d2dd4f71434084e2b6094de1865e23abb37bb9f28ca51feeabee679ec9be2

Money

hacker

bitcoin

Cryptocurrency

forgot password

millionaire

digital currency

USB drive

Stefan Thomas

Have you ever encountered the exasperating moment when you can't recall your password?
Many of us have found ourselves in this situation, especially when attempting to log in to our social media accounts on a new device, as we often rely on automatic logins.
Typically, when we forget our password, we rush to compile a list of past passwords to try various combinations. When all else fails, we resort to the "Forget Password" button, but this option is only available if you're logged out of the account. If you're already logged in and simply want to change your password, you'll reach a point where you question your current password. Then, when you attempt to set a new one, you're often informed that you can't reuse the same or old passwords.
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/15b50d0ec44a1b0542286514861d3b766055a434efdb87f307b656566e141dd6" width="564" height="538" />
While we will eventually receive an email notification to guide us through the password reset process, there are certain aspects in life that cannot be easily reset, particularly when finances are involved. Unless someone out there has a solution to address this issue.
Man Has Only 2 Password Guesses To Access His $240 Million In Bitcoin
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/5989cc4d5fbd630dcec569406c666d4c4da378ba3187989b42b3c8c59f9a28d9" />
If you've been involved in the cryptocurrency community for an extended period, you might be familiar with the tale of Stefan Thomas, a German programmer residing in San Francisco. He is the individual behind an animated video explaining 'What Is Bitcoin?' back in 2011.
The video was created for a Bitcoin enthusiast in Switzerland, and as compensation, Thomas received 7,002 Bitcoins. At the time, each Bitcoin was worth a mere $2, but its value has since surged to approximately $34,095.80 per coin. This has led to the current staggering value of his collection, which amounts to $238,735,990.80.
If you think of it, that doesn&rsquo;t sound half bad considering that the video was only a minute long. 
Unfortunately, Thomas is facing a challenging situation as he cannot remember the password required to unlock the encrypted IronKey hard drive that securely holds his Bitcoin. To make matters worse, this hard drive isn't like typical storage devices that can be connected to another computer for data recovery.
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/f8cef4f16528df85c4a1fb250c59fc2554d99d674cfb629f0dedb83759988e9a" />
For those unfamiliar with an encrypted IronKey, it's a highly secure device that typically allows users only 10 attempts to correctly input the password. The downside is that if someone exceeds those 10 attempts with incorrect passwords, the device will automatically wipe all its data, rendering it inaccessible to anyone, including the rightful owner.
Comparatively, back in 2011, the price of a single Bitcoin ranged from $2 to $30 (~RM142.45). However, over time, the value of Bitcoin has significantly increased. In 2021, it reached over $65,000 (~RM9.50 - RM308,652.50) per Bitcoin. As of 2023, the price has fluctuated, and it stands at approximately $34,626 (~RM164,421.56).
Observing the substantial increase in the digital currency's value over the years, Thomas made several unsuccessful attempts to access the hard drive. With only two more password guesses left out of the 10 allotted, he stands to lose a substantial fortune if he doesn't succeed.
Getting Help From Many
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/fb8bb8b12e0ad6b1e52a3b66a8e8edbfef1f3f6551884e3c0529d447b8a78d84" />
At present, Thomas isn't the sole individual striving to access the hard drive. Groups of cybersecurity professionals are also endeavouring to unlock the wallet, exploring various methods to breach the IronKey's security.
Remarkably, one hacker purports to have discovered a resolution to Thomas' predicament. An entity known as Uncipheard, which specializes in recovering lost cryptocurrency, asserts that they have devised a method to circumvent the security of the decade-old IronKey hard drives. However, the situation takes an unusual turn from here.
<img src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/animation/2023/07/26/00/20/00-20-51-158_512.gif" />
The hacker, who went by the alias Tom Smith, reached out to Thomas with a message stating "query voltage recurrence." This message served as evidence of an impressive accomplishment. Tom Smith had formulated these terms and set them as a passphrase on specific models of encrypted IronKeys distributed nationwide. This approach essentially provided them with unlimited attempts to unlock the USB stick. With the assistance of a high-performance computer, they managed to generate the passphrase within a day, requiring approximately 200 trillion attempts. To add further credence, the hacker revealed that he and Unciphered's team had dedicated nearly two months to developing a method to crack the specific decade-old IronKey model.
The hacker firmly believed that they could unlock Thomas's IronKey and were prepared to employ their secret cracking technique for this purpose. They had waited until they possessed a fully reliable attack method before contacting Thomas. However, Thomas appeared hesitant to accept their help, and their conversation did not progress to discussing any fees or commissions. This was because he had already entered into a "handshake deal" with two other cracking teams a year earlier. Thomas further confirmed to WIRED that he was no longer in a position to engage with new individuals, and the current team might decide to subcontract Unciphered if they deemed it the best course of action.
With just two remaining password guesses, Thomas finds himself in a challenging situation. He has two choices before him: to place his trust in the companies that claim they can help him or simply hold onto the IronKey and hope that he recalls the password at some point in the future. If any of us were in a similar position, many would likely consider giving the companies a chance. However, this decision would also depend on the time available for research and the number of remaining attempts to guess the password on the IronKey.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
&nbsp;
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media, Wired &amp; various cross-references for context.
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Imagine how much money you can get by cracking the password!

657de0e4287eedc40f86c13ba1588ed1486c03aff094b7ee9697291d95f370e4

Hacker Aids Man With Only Two Password Attempts Left To Unlock RM1.1 Billion Bitcoin

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Scentify

e891e864574960ae21e3a00f338f06377dd53af0baffdac1786ad4ed7dad7721

Oatside

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Rohto

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Hacker Aids Man With Only Two Password Attempts Left To Unlock RM1.1 Billion Bitcoin

Imagine how much money you can get by cracking the password!

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