TeslaCrypt shuts down and Releases Master Decryption Key
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Anyone who has TeslasCrypt encrypted files with the .xxx, .ttt, .micro, .mp3, or encrypted files without an extension can now decrypt their files for free!
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That seems surprising.... I wonder if they weren't making enough money to continue their project..... (as much as one can call it a project)
Seems like a rather odd change of events for something that has spurred the entire business of ransomware essentially.
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WTF? That is just weird. It makes you wonder if they were attacked by another cryptoware player?
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If I were to bet, I'd put money down that they've been working on an updated platform for some time now. Probably different enough that it's no longer compatible with their old management pieces.
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Then why the Sorry comment? Why give out the master key?
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really this feels more like they were invaded by other hackers, maybe the NSA, maybe Russia version of hackers... and they were given a choice?
But that wouldn't explain a structured slow/shut down either...
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@Dashrender you are reading way too much into that.
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@JaredBusch said in TeslaCrypt shuts down and Releases Master Decryption Key:
@Dashrender you are reading way too much into that.
I agree, I bet that there is a logical, just non-obvious, business case for this. Like their own customers are no longer paying or they want to lessen any potential future litigation risks now that there is no more profits in this particular business case. Lots of reasons that would make sense if we just knew the factors involved.
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@scottalanmiller I heard from a couple of sources yesterday that the distributors have changed to a different/new cryptoware product.
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@travisdh1 said in TeslaCrypt shuts down and Releases Master Decryption Key:
@scottalanmiller I heard from a couple of sources yesterday that the distributors have changed to a different/new cryptoware product.
They had announced that when this initial news came out, but it was you posting this that made me realize the significance... they needed to make the old code useless to force people to the new code!!
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I heard a lot people say that they gave it up to relieve some legal pressure. But you can't commit crimes then just apologize and wash your hands. You can't save face by admitting guilt in this case. You'd get in trouble by admitting you were at fault and release the keys.
I agree that this is just to make the old code completely useless. Want to keep using software? You're gonna be buying all new software. Bold move!
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@scottalanmiller said in TeslaCrypt shuts down and Releases Master Decryption Key:
@travisdh1 said in TeslaCrypt shuts down and Releases Master Decryption Key:
@scottalanmiller I heard from a couple of sources yesterday that the distributors have changed to a different/new cryptoware product.
They had announced that when this initial news came out, but it was you posting this that made me realize the significance... they needed to make the old code useless to force people to the new code!!
That's how Microsoft made their old code useless (or was it always pretty useless?). Force people into installing new software.
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@BBigford said in TeslaCrypt shuts down and Releases Master Decryption Key:
I heard a lot people say that they gave it up to relieve some legal pressure. But you can't commit crimes then just apologize and wash your hands. You can't save face by admitting guilt in this case. You'd get in trouble by admitting you were at fault and release the keys.
I agree that this is just to make the old code completely useless. Want to keep using software? You're gonna be buying all new software. Bold move!
It often does receive legal pressure because the total loss to a company is not so large. Because civil suits require there to be a damages number, making the damages smaller greatly reduces the value of a lawsuit which in turn reduces the likelihood of someone pursuing one.
