Open Trading Network(OTN)

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) widened its definition of a dealer today to pull many more financial operations into its jurisdiction – including, as it warned in a footnote of its original proposal – those dealing in crypto securities.

[PRESS RELEASE – UAE, Dubai, January 2nd, 2024] Meta Force is one step closer to launching the Metaverse. The other day, the founder of the crypto platform, Lado Okhotnikov, announced readiness to launch the next Tactile program. This innovative system will combine products, cashback and a unique reward structure through an affiliate program, and will […]

Every charismatic person always has a unique image that emphasizes the personality and says a lot about his vision of life in general and business in particular.

Former smartphone giant BlackBerry’s cybersecurity division has identified notorious malware families that are exclusively targeting cryptocurrencies and the crypto ecosystem. Prominent malware includes the likes of RaccoonStealer, SmokeLoader, and Vidar, which hijack computers belonging to unsuspecting users for crypto mining or theft. BlackBerry Identifies Significant Threats The findings were published in a “Global Threat Intelligence Report” published on Thursday. In the report, the former smartphone giant states that they successfully averted over 1.5 million cyberattacks between the months of March and May. The company added that the primary target of these attacks was the healthcare, financial, and government sectors. BlackBerry published the report on X, stating, “Think only enterprises get hacked? If you’re a mid-market or small business, you still have a big target on your small or mid-size back. BlackBerry’s@aboutsecurity shares why cybercriminals select targets based on impact & how much they’re willing to pay.” One of the most significant threats identified during this period was RedLine, a commodity malware that can harvest information such as saved credentials, crypto, and credit card information. RedLine was used to breach Hatch Bank, a fintech banking platform, leading to the loss of significant banking data and crypto. BlackBerry noted in its report, “During this reporting period, BlackBerry telemetry observed a continuous trend in the use of commodity malware such as RedLine, which can harvest information including saved credentials, credit card information, and cryptocurrency.” Malware Targeting Crypto The company also identified several other malware families specifically designed to hijack and use computers for mining purposes. These include RaccoonStealer, Vidar, and SmokeLoader. SmokeLoader, a rogue financial tool, is of particular concern and has been used by Russian hackers and threat actors for rogue crypto mining. RaccoonStealer, a malware that can be sourced from the dark web, has been designed to specifically target crypto wallets and steal information. The malware is capable of obtaining passwords, cookies, web browser data, and cryptocurrency wallet data. Another malware, Vidar, targets Linux users and extracts information from crypto wallets and exchanges. Hackers routinely target Linux systems because they are vulnerable to mining attacks. BlackBerry has advised companies to apply security patches to secure themselves from attacks orchestrated by the malware families in question. “Vidar harvests banking information, browser credentials, and cryptocurrency wallets, as well as standard files.” The report also highlighted the Clop ransomware, which was used to target banking and financial institutions. This particular ransomware was also responsible for a data breach at Hatch Bank. The report also highlighted the growing threat to critical sectors from hackers and such malware, emphasizing the importance and urgency for companies to bolster their cybersecurity practices to counter these threats. Hackers have also introduced the Promotei botnet to target Linux-based servers to mine cryptocurrencies such as Monero. Given the botnet’s advanced features, tracing and stopping it has been notoriously difficult. The Crypto Space And Cybersecurity SonicWall, a cybersecurity firm, has, in a recent report, stated that crypto-jacking incidents have risen a staggering 399% year-on-year. Most of the entities behind these attempts are based in regions where mining bans and sanctions are in force. An estimate by Statista projects the cybersecurity market to reach $162 billion in 2023 on the back of increasing threats to the crypto ecosystem. The most recent hack targeting an exchange occurred on the 22nd of July when North Korean hackers from the notorious Lazarus Group targeted the Coinspaid exchange and stole around $37 million. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Former smartphone giant BlackBerry’s cybersecurity division has identified notorious malware families that are exclusively targeting cryptocurrencies and the crypto ecosystem. Prominent malware includes the likes of RaccoonStealer, SmokeLoader, and Vidar, which hijack computers belonging to unsuspecting users for crypto mining or theft. BlackBerry Identifies Significant Threats The findings were published in a “Global Threat Intelligence Report” published on Thursday. In the report, the former smartphone giant states that they successfully averted over 1.5 million cyberattacks between the months of March and May. The company added that the primary target of these attacks was the healthcare, financial, and government sectors. BlackBerry published the report on X, stating, “Think only enterprises get hacked? If you’re a mid-market or small business, you still have a big target on your small or mid-size back. BlackBerry’s@aboutsecurity shares why cybercriminals select targets based on impact & how much they’re willing to pay.” One of the most significant threats identified during this period was RedLine, a commodity malware that can harvest information such as saved credentials, crypto, and credit card information. RedLine was used to breach Hatch Bank, a fintech banking platform, leading to the loss of significant banking data and crypto. BlackBerry noted in its report, “During this reporting period, BlackBerry telemetry observed a continuous trend in the use of commodity malware such as RedLine, which can harvest information including saved credentials, credit card information, and cryptocurrency.” Malware Targeting Crypto The company also identified several other malware families specifically designed to hijack and use computers for mining purposes. These include RaccoonStealer, Vidar, and SmokeLoader. SmokeLoader, a rogue financial tool, is of particular concern and has been used by Russian hackers and threat actors for rogue crypto mining. RaccoonStealer, a malware that can be sourced from the dark web, has been designed to specifically target crypto wallets and steal information. The malware is capable of obtaining passwords, cookies, web browser data, and cryptocurrency wallet data. Another malware, Vidar, targets Linux users and extracts information from crypto wallets and exchanges. Hackers routinely target Linux systems because they are vulnerable to mining attacks. BlackBerry has advised companies to apply security patches to secure themselves from attacks orchestrated by the malware families in question. “Vidar harvests banking information, browser credentials, and cryptocurrency wallets, as well as standard files.” The report also highlighted the Clop ransomware, which was used to target banking and financial institutions. This particular ransomware was also responsible for a data breach at Hatch Bank. The report also highlighted the growing threat to critical sectors from hackers and such malware, emphasizing the importance and urgency for companies to bolster their cybersecurity practices to counter these threats. Hackers have also introduced the Promotei botnet to target Linux-based servers to mine cryptocurrencies such as Monero. Given the botnet’s advanced features, tracing and stopping it has been notoriously difficult. The Crypto Space And Cybersecurity SonicWall, a cybersecurity firm, has, in a recent report, stated that crypto-jacking incidents have risen a staggering 399% year-on-year. Most of the entities behind these attempts are based in regions where mining bans and sanctions are in force. An estimate by Statista projects the cybersecurity market to reach $162 billion in 2023 on the back of increasing threats to the crypto ecosystem. The most recent hack targeting an exchange occurred on the 22nd of July when North Korean hackers from the notorious Lazarus Group targeted the Coinspaid exchange and stole around $37 million. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

The legal tussle between Ripple and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) takes a new turn as web3 lawyers and digital asset users scrutinize a new revelation concerning the case.  Pro-XRP lawyer John Deaton has stated that a small footnote that he discovered in Ripple’s brief could play a key role in determining the merits […]

Pro-XRP lawyer John Deaton has eagle-eyed a small footnote in a Ripple brief that purportedly confirms XRP was discussed among SEC staff prior to the Hinman speech.

Elon Musk faces a staggering $258 billion racketeering lawsuit as Dogecoin investors accuse him of running a pyramid scheme to boost the cryptocurrency. In response, Musk's legal team submitted a filing to a Manhattan federal court, dubbing the lawsuit a "fanciful work of fiction." They argue that Musk's "innocuous and often silly tweets" about Dogecoin, such as "Dogecoin Rulz" and "no highs, no lows, only Doge," were too vague to constitute fraud. Musk's lawyers further contend that the plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate how the Tesla CEO intended to defraud anyone or what risks he concealed. They emphasize that there is nothing unlawful about tweeting support or sharing amusing images about a legitimate cryptocurrency with a market cap of nearly $10 billion. As a result, they urge the court to dismiss the complaint. In a footnote, the lawyers also dismiss the investors' assertion that Dogecoin should be classified as a security. Evan Spencer, the attorney representing the investors, stated in an email: "We are more confident than ever that our case will be successful." According to the plaintiffs, Musk, who ranks as the world's second-richest person by Forbes, deliberately inflated Dogecoin's price by more than 36,000% over two years before allowing it to plummet. The investors argue that Musk generated billions of dollars in profits at the expense of other Dogecoin investors, even though he knew the currency had no intrinsic value. They also cite Musk's appearance on NBC's "Saturday Night Live," during which he referred to Dogecoin as "a hustle" while portraying a fictional financial expert on a "Weekend Update" segment. The $258 billion in damages sought by the investors is triple the estimated decline in Dogecoin's market value in the 13 months leading up to the lawsuit. The Dogecoin Foundation, a nonprofit, is also named as a defendant and is seeking the lawsuit's dismissal. This is not the first time Musk's Twitter activity has sparked legal action. On February 3, a San Francisco jury ruled in his favor, finding him not liable for a tweet in August 2018 claiming he had secured financing to take Tesla private. The case, Johnson et al v. Musk et al, is ongoing in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, under case number 22-05037. As both parties remain confident in their positions, the court's decision will undoubtedly have significant implications for the future of cryptocurrency and the role of influential figures in shaping its trajectory. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.