In a latest success story, {hardware} hacker Joe Grand helped “Michael,” a European cryptocurrency proprietor, recuperate $3 million value of bitcoin after an 11-year-old password was cracked. Michael had saved his 43.6 BTC in a password-protected digital pockets, utilizing a password generated by the RoboForm password supervisor; He encrypted this password with TrueCrypt, however when the file grew to become corrupted, he misplaced entry to it.
Initially, Grand turned down Michael’s request for assist, however he reconsidered final yr. Michael had contacted numerous cryptography specialists, all of whom believed recovering the password was unattainable. Grand, who is thought for his experience in {hardware} hacking, had beforehand helped recuperate $2 million in cryptocurrency from a Trezor pockets utilizing superior methods — Nonetheless, Michael’s case concerned a software-based pockets, making Grand’s normal {hardware} abilities much less relevant.
Grand thought of brute-forcing the password, however this strategy was impractical given the complexity and size of the password; He additionally contemplated the potential of a flaw within the RoboForm password supervisor which may permit for simpler guessing, however he doubted such a flaw existed — Seems, it did! The precise model of the pockets that Michael put in had “a limitation” in its randomization function for producing the password.
Teaming up together with his pal Bruno in Germany, who additionally makes a speciality of hacking digital wallets, Grand finally agreed to deal with the issue. Regardless of the preliminary doubts and the challenges posed by the software-based encryption, their mixed experience and a stroke of luck led to the profitable restoration of Michael’s bitcoin.
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