Cryptocurrency This Week: North Korean Hackers Use Telegram To Steal Bitcoin, And More

Financial restraint on crypto entities has clearly slowed down the cryptocurrency trading in India. However, the RBI order hasn’t helped in cutting down the loose ends of crypto use cases such as cryptojacking, illegal trading at darknet and hacking to steal Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Cryptojacking refers to illegal mining of cryptocurrencies through unauthorised access of someone else’s computers without them knowing it.

K7 Computing in their ‘Cyber Threat Predictions for the year 2020’ report has now estimated that in 2020 too, the cryptojacking trend is not going to decline. “We suppose, as the surge in the price of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Monero and Ethereum, and the recently-launched Libra by Facebook, have made cryptojacking a lucrative option for the threat actors who could hunt down numerous victims in the coming year,” stated the report.

Threat actors might continue to use in-browser cryptojacking techniques where a JavaScript is used to mine cryptocurrency from an infected web page embedded with the malicious mining code, the report added.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin is currently trading at $8.2K, witnessing around 9.6% surge this week. Many do believe the self-proclaimed Bitcoin creator aka Satoshi Nakamoto aka Craig Wright is the reason behind the rally. Wright recently submitted more documents to the court to prove his claim.

North Korean Hack Uses Telegram To Steal Bitcoin

North Korean hackers who have reportedly been masterminds behind some of the South Korean exchanges hacks have now developed a new a way to steal Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

According to an Independent report, the notorious Lazarus Group, a hacking collective with links to North Korea, has come up with “enhanced capabilities” in order to target individuals and organisations around the world.

Run by the Lazarus Group, the Operation AppleJeus, cyber theft campaign has been active for the last couple of years and has looted people from the UK, China, Poland and Russia. The hackers are reportedly using Telegram to lure victims and then infect a virus in the victim’s device which gives hackers access to the user data.

Utrust Partners With EZ4U

Switzerland-based crypto-payments solution provider Utrust has announced EZ4U.  The partnership will help allow Utrust to enter the SaaS market where it didn’t have any presence.

Utrust CEO Nuno Correia said, “Our mission isn’t simply to create the best products for our customers. We are building a community, trying to improve how people lead their lives. For Utrust to enter the SaaS market, and with a partner as great as EZ4U, is a big step in that direction”

EZ4U creates personalized solutions for every customer, helping those who hire them to communicate via mass text messaging or WhatsApp campaigns. Their solutions are varied, and range from web disseminated SMS campaigns, with automatic mechanisms, to WhatsApp conversational flows custom built to order. Now, with Utrust, EZ4U will be accepting crypto payments, which will allow the customer to purchase company “credits” which they can convert into services. As for any other Utrust merchant, Bitcoin, Ethereum will be available as payment options, not only via Utrust Pay, but via Utrust Wallet too.

Binance Futures Launches Ripple, Tether Contracts

Malta-based crypto exchange Binance has launched Ripple, Tether futures contracts with up to 75x leverage on its Binance Futures trading platform. Ripple is the fourth digital asset now available on Binance’s fast-expanding futures trading platform.

Earlier, Binance Futures had launched isolated margin mode, which allows users to control the precise amount of capital that they are willing to risk to limit unrealized losses in the event of adverse price movements.

Commenting on the same, Aaron Gong, Director of Binance Futures said, “Binance Futures wrapped up the year 2019 with 99,090,000,000 USDT total trading volume, witnessing the continuous growth of retail and institutional investors. From the inception, we have been seeking ways in building a futures trading platform that allows traders to trade their favourite assets according to their trading strategies,”

Binance meanwhile has also collaborated with Satang Corporation, a regulated digital asset exchange in Thailand. The partnership will allow Binance to trade in Baht on Binance channel now onwards.