Day: August 17, 2024

Hackers demanded crypto ransom amid cyber attack at Paris 2024 Olympics

The Grand Palais in Paris, a prominent venue for the 2024 Summer Olympics, has become the latest victim of a high-profile cyberattack. Hackers infiltrated the venue’s digital infrastructure, demanding a significant ransom in cryptocurrency. This incident not only underscores the persistent cybersecurity threats but also highlights the increasing use of cryptocurrencies in cybercrime.

The cyberattack occurred at the beginning of August 2024, targeting the Grand Palais, which hosted several high-profile Olympic events. According to reports, the attackers gained access to sensitive financial data and threatened to release this information unless their demands for a cryptocurrency ransom were met​.

Cybersecurity Challenges & The Role of Crypto

This attack on the Olympic venue brings to light the ongoing cybersecurity challenges faced by major international events. With the world watching, the stakes are incredibly high. The attackers were essentially playing a high-stakes game, akin to a digital blackjack, where they bet on the swift response and compliance of their targets to secure the cryptocurrency ransom.

Cryptocurrencies have become a preferred medium for ransom payments due to their pseudonymous nature. The ability to transfer large sums of money quickly and with relative anonymity makes cryptocurrencies an attractive option for cybercriminals. This incident is a stark reminder of the dual-edged sword that cryptocurrencies represent – while they offer numerous benefits for legitimate users, they also provide tools for malicious actors​.

Response and Mitigation

In response to the attack, the organizing committee of the Paris 2024 Olympics worked closely with cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies to contain the breach and mitigate further damage. The compromised systems were secured and measures were put in place to protect other vulnerable infrastructure from similar attacks.

Furthermore, this incident is expected to prompt a reevaluation of cybersecurity measures at large-scale events. It emphasizes the need for robust, proactive security protocols and the importance of staying ahead of evolving cyber threats.

Broader Implications

The cyberattack on the Grand Palais is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend of increasing cyber threats targeting high-profile events and institutions. It serves as a wake-up call for organizers of major events worldwide to prioritize cybersecurity and to prepare for potential threats that could disrupt operations and compromise sensitive information.

Demanding cryptocurrency ransom is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that exist in today’s digital landscape. As cryptocurrencies continue to gain prominence, they also attract the attention of cybercriminals looking to exploit their unique properties. This incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect against such high-stakes digital threats, ensuring the safety and integrity of global events like the Olympics.

The post Hackers demanded crypto ransom amid cyber attack at Paris 2024 Olympics appeared first on CoinJournal.

Aptos, Celestia, SATS retreat as investors focus on DTX Exchange

Most cryptocurrencies continued their downtrend on Friday as the mood in the market remained tense as investors waited for the next catalyst. Bitcoin dropped below $59,000 while other tokens like Aptos, Celestia, and SATS fell by over 6.2% in the last 24 hours. Most of these tokens have moved into a deep bear market recently. 

It is not doom and gloom though as DTX Exchange, an upcoming hybrid crypto exchange continued firing on all cylinders, as you can see on its website here.

DTX Exchange is thriving

DTX Exchange, a company that seeks to disrupt the crypto and stocks exchange industry, has raised over $1.36 million from global investors. Its token sale is in the second stage, with the coin trading at $0.04. It will then rise to $0.04, meaning that current buyers are getting a big discount and will get more tokens than when it moves to the third stage.

DTX Exchange’s goal is to radically disrupt existing exchanges like Uniswap, Raydium, PancakeSwap, and Orca. 

As part of its strategy, the developers hope that the exchange will become an all-in-one platform for trading stocks, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and forex. No other decentralized exchange offers these assets in one platform. 

At the same time, the developers hope that the DTX token will have more utility than existing tokens like UNI, CAKE, and RAY. Users will use it to pay trading fees on the platform as well as having discounts. 

In addition, the token will give holders premium features and pay them loyalty rewards. Users will have a chance to earn rewards by staking their tokens. Staking is a process where traders earn rewards for just holding cryptocurrencies in their wallets. In some cases, these rewards could be in the double digits. 

Analysts believe that DTX Exchange has a chance to become a disruptive force in the crypto industry. Beside, the exchange plans to have deep liquidity, have advanced security features, and have more assets than other exchanges.

Celestia, Aptos, and SATS retreat

DTX Exchange is doing well as most cryptocurrencies have remained in a deep bear market. Celestia, a popular network that offers modular scaling solutions, has dropped by over 75% from its highest point this year. 

Similarly, Aptos token has crashed to $6.10 from a high of $20 in March. SATS has moved to $0.00028, down from the all-time high of over $0.00064.

This price action is mostly because of the weak sentiment in the cryptocurrency industry as the volume has dropped. Interest among investors has also waned as the number of social media mentions has dropped. The market cap of all Tether tokens in circulation has also dropped.

Still, analysts are optimistic that cryptocurrencies will start doing well this year. Besides, the end of the Summer season is continuing while the US presidential election is set to conclude in November. The Fed is also expected to slash interest rates in the next meeting. You can buy the DTX token here.

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