Lost Bitcoin Password Cracked by Hackers
In a remarkable turn of events, two hackers successfully cracked the forgotten password of a digital wallet that held a significant amount of Bitcoin (BTC), valued at $3 million.
Cracking the Unreachable Treasure Trove
- In 2013, a cryptocurrency enthusiast known as “Michael” locked away 43.6 BTC in a password-protected digital wallet.
- The password, stored in an encrypted file, became corrupted, rendering Michael unable to access his valuable assets.
- Despite expert opinions suggesting the crypto could not be accessed without the password, two hackers named Grand and Bruno decided to take on the challenge.
The Reverse-Engineering Adventure
- Grand and Bruno spent months reverse-engineering the RoboForm password program used by Michael for his wallet.
- They discovered that the supposedly random passwords generated by the tool were not truly random, as they were linked to the computer’s timestamp.
- By deciphering the time of password creation and its parameters, such as character count and type, the hackers made progress towards cracking the code.
Unlocking Bitcoin Fortunes
- Michael’s password breakthrough came after exhaustive efforts by Grand and Bruno.
- The password, devoid of special characters, was created on May 15, 2013, at 4:10:40 PM GMT.
- Regaining access when Bitcoin was valued at $38,000, Michael waited until the price surged to $62,000 before making a partial sale.
- Currently holding 30 BTC, Michael’s assets are worth over $2 million at the current price of $67,543.
Hot Take: Recovery of Lost Fortunes
Through determination, expertise, and a stroke of luck, the hackers managed to retrieve $3 million in Bitcoin from a digital wallet thought to be forever lost due to a forgotten password. The successful recovery highlights the potential for innovation and perseverance within the crypto community, offering hope to others facing similar obstacles.