WannaCry Ransom Bitcoins Withdrawn from Online Wallets
The owners of Bitcoin wallets associated with this year’s WannaCry attack have withdrawn their funds, the BBC reports. More than $140,000 in Bitcoin has been removed from the online wallets, leaving their collective balance at zero.
WannaCry victims were asked to pay between $300 and $600 in Bitcoin to restore their data when the ransomware outbreak hit earlier this year. Despite experts’ warnings that payment wouldn’t guarantee recovery, many victims decided to pay anyway. Part of the funds were withdrawn in late July; the rest were removed this week.
Experts don’t anticipate the collectors will attempt to turn the digital currency into real money, a move that would help determine who is behind this. Many expect the Bitcoin will be put into a “mixer” and mixed into a larger series of payments so it’s harder to track.
Read more details here.
Dark Reading’s Quick Hits delivers a brief synopsis and summary of the significance of breaking news events. For more information from the original source of the news item, please follow the link provided in this article. View Full Bio