Catalin Cimpanu
Dane  🇮🇪 ☮️🕉️⚛️☸️
Catalin Cimpanu and 1 other boosted
#ESETResearch has discovered the first known AI-powered ransomware, which we named #PromptLock. The PromptLock malware uses the gpt-oss:20b model from OpenAI locally via the Ollama API to generate malicious Lua scripts on the fly, which it then executes.
PromptLock leverages Lua scripts generated from hard-coded prompts to enumerate the local filesystem, inspect target files, exfiltrate selected data, and perform encryption. These Lua scripts are cross-platform compatible, functioning on #Windows, #Linux, and #macOS.
Based on the detected user files, the malware may exfiltrate data, encrypt it, or potentially destroy it. Although the destruction functionality appears to be not yet implemented. #Bitcoin address used in the prompt appears to belong to Bitcoin creator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satoshi_Nakamoto
For its file encryption mechanism, the PromptLock ransomware utilizes the SPECK 128-bit encryption algorithm.
Although multiple indicators suggest the sample is a proof-of-concept (PoC) or work-in-progress rather than fully operational malware deployed in the wild, we believe it is our responsibility to inform the cybersecurity community about such developments.
The PromptLock ransomware is written in #Golang, and we have identified both Windows and Linux variants uploaded to VirusTotal. IoCs:
🚨 Filecoder.PromptLock.A
📄 24BF7B72F54AA5B93C6681B4F69E579A47D7C102
AD223FE2BB4563446AEE5227357BBFDC8ADA3797
BB8FB75285BCD151132A3287F2786D4D91DA58B8
F3F4C40C344695388E10CBF29DDB18EF3B61F7EF
639DBC9B365096D6347142FCAE64725BD9F73270
161CDCDB46FB8A348AEC609A86FF5823752065D2
#ESETResearch has discovered the first known AI-powered ransomware, which we named #PromptLock. The PromptLock malware uses the gpt-oss:20b model from OpenAI locally via the Ollama API to generate malicious Lua scripts on the fly, which it then executes.
PromptLock leverages Lua scripts generated from hard-coded prompts to enumerate the local filesystem, inspect target files, exfiltrate selected data, and perform encryption. These Lua scripts are cross-platform compatible, functioning on #Windows, #Linux, and #macOS.
Based on the detected user files, the malware may exfiltrate data, encrypt it, or potentially destroy it. Although the destruction functionality appears to be not yet implemented. #Bitcoin address used in the prompt appears to belong to Bitcoin creator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satoshi_Nakamoto
For its file encryption mechanism, the PromptLock ransomware utilizes the SPECK 128-bit encryption algorithm.
Although multiple indicators suggest the sample is a proof-of-concept (PoC) or work-in-progress rather than fully operational malware deployed in the wild, we believe it is our responsibility to inform the cybersecurity community about such developments.
The PromptLock ransomware is written in #Golang, and we have identified both Windows and Linux variants uploaded to VirusTotal. IoCs:
🚨 Filecoder.PromptLock.A
📄 24BF7B72F54AA5B93C6681B4F69E579A47D7C102
AD223FE2BB4563446AEE5227357BBFDC8ADA3797
BB8FB75285BCD151132A3287F2786D4D91DA58B8
F3F4C40C344695388E10CBF29DDB18EF3B61F7EF
639DBC9B365096D6347142FCAE64725BD9F73270
161CDCDB46FB8A348AEC609A86FF5823752065D2

random #bitcoin advice:

5 practical ways to accumulate Bitcoin even if you don’t have much money:

1. Sell unused items – Turn clutter (old phones, clothes, furniture) into Bitcoin by selling them and asking to be paid in BTC .

2. Earn Bitcoin directly – Offer skills, freelance work, or even small businesses (like a taco stand) and accept payment or tips in Bitcoin .

3. Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) – Buy small, regular amounts (even $5/week) regardless of price; over time this outperforms trying to time the market .

4. Spend & earn back – Use services like Bitrefill to shop normally (groceries, gas, gift cards) but get Bitcoin rewards instead of airline miles .

5. Mine Bitcoin – Even with small devices, mining gives a hands-on way to earn sats and understand Bitcoin’s network .

Bonus: Join a Bitcoin community (meetups, online groups) to learn, stay motivated, and build conviction .

👉 Overall message: You don’t need to buy a whole Bitcoin; start stacking sats consistently, since “every sat counts” toward financial freedom.

Eric Trump plans to visit Tokyo next month as part of his family’s expanding push into the cryptocurrency industry, according to people familiar with the matter. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/08/22/eric-trump-japan-september/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #erictrump #cryptocurrencies #bitcoin #tokyo #us

Uhm... Tavis Ormandy works for Google, that is responsible of some of the aggressive crawlers Anubis try to block.

Whatever he writes on his blog should be read within such cultural frame.

Maybe they will soon enable #JS execution in crawlers, but if Anubis get massive adoption, #AI crawling will becomes much more expensive. Consider they will also have to avoid smarter guys trying polluting their models. So all, in all, I still think Anubis is a good idea.

Also, if they enable JS in the crawlers, I'm going to turn them into #bitcoin miners.
That might the very first use case for a #cryptocurrency since 2008!

I'm notoriously a #blockchain mocker, considering the whole technology stack as a large-scale scam-factory framework.
But getting money out of #Google, #Amazon, #Facebook and similar #BigTech might be the very first legit and useful use case for a miner since bitcoin invention.

CC: @Scmbradley@mathstodon.xyz@lindsey@recurse.social

Uhm... Tavis Ormandy works for Google, that is responsible of some of the aggressive crawlers Anubis try to block.

Whatever he writes on his blog should be read within such cultural frame.

Maybe they will soon enable #JS execution in crawlers, but if Anubis get massive adoption, #AI crawling will becomes much more expensive. Consider they will also have to avoid smarter guys trying polluting their models. So all, in all, I still think Anubis is a good idea.

Also, if they enable JS in the crawlers, I'm going to turn them into #bitcoin miners.
That might the very first use case for a #cryptocurrency since 2008!

I'm notoriously a #blockchain mocker, considering the whole technology stack as a large-scale scam-factory framework.
But getting money out of #Google, #Amazon, #Facebook and similar #BigTech might be the very first legit and useful use case for a miner since bitcoin invention.

CC: @Scmbradley@mathstodon.xyz@lindsey@recurse.social

The U.S. dollar's dominance is threatened as digital currencies' security and data integrity become key factors in the global monetary system, challenging America's economic privilege. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/08/20/world/currencies-in-the-digital-age/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #worldnews #usdollar #currencies #crytocurrencies #bitcoin #stablecoin #blockchains

Ω🪬Ω
#TheCryptocalypseChronicles: Epstein's Arrest Shook The Blockchain

Jeffrey Epstein's arrest seems to have set off a wave of suspicious crypto payments that have heretofore gone unexamined.

1. The 2nd highest volume day in bitcoin history came a week after Epstein died.

2. #Stablecoin transfer volumes doubled less than 48 hours after Epstein was arrested. In particular #Tether, the stablecoin whose money is managed by Epstein's next door neighbor and #Trump's current Secretary of Commerce, saw on chain volumes skyrocket.

Also there's the matter of a bunch of suspicious deaths among Epstein's crypto circle.

(RTs appreciated)
https://cryptadamus.substack.com/p/epsteins-arrest-shook-the-blockchain

#epsteinfiles #epstein #epsteinCoverup #uspol#SaudiArabia #israel#EhudBarak #uspolitics#JeffreyEpstein #crime#corruption #moneylaundering #bitcoin #crypto #blockchain#FSB#Russia #putin#vladimirPutin #cryptocurrency#BTC #tether#USDT#JustinSun

Donald Trump is making out like a bandit through crypto scams, and some people see it as an easy way to buy influence.

On Tech Won’t Save Us, I spoke with Jacob Silverman to discuss how Trump is deregulating crypto and the continued tech-MAGA alliance.

Listen to the full episode: https://techwontsave.us/episode/287_trumps_crypto_profiteering_is_worse_than_you_think_w_jacob_silverman

#tech #crypto #donaldtrump #bitcoin #corruption #scams #politics

Ω🪬Ω
#TheCryptocalypseChronicles: Epstein's Arrest Shook The Blockchain

Jeffrey Epstein's arrest seems to have set off a wave of suspicious crypto payments that have heretofore gone unexamined.

1. The 2nd highest volume day in bitcoin history came a week after Epstein died.

2. #Stablecoin transfer volumes doubled less than 48 hours after Epstein was arrested. In particular #Tether, the stablecoin whose money is managed by Epstein's next door neighbor and #Trump's current Secretary of Commerce, saw on chain volumes skyrocket.

Also there's the matter of a bunch of suspicious deaths among Epstein's crypto circle.

(RTs appreciated)
https://cryptadamus.substack.com/p/epsteins-arrest-shook-the-blockchain

#epsteinfiles #epstein #epsteinCoverup #uspol#SaudiArabia #israel#EhudBarak #uspolitics#JeffreyEpstein #crime#corruption #moneylaundering #bitcoin #crypto #blockchain#FSB#Russia #putin#vladimirPutin #cryptocurrency#BTC #tether#USDT#JustinSun

Donald Trump is making out like a bandit through crypto scams, and some people see it as an easy way to buy influence.

On Tech Won’t Save Us, I spoke with Jacob Silverman to discuss how Trump is deregulating crypto and the continued tech-MAGA alliance.

Listen to the full episode: https://techwontsave.us/episode/287_trumps_crypto_profiteering_is_worse_than_you_think_w_jacob_silverman

#tech #crypto #donaldtrump #bitcoin #corruption #scams #politics

3/ btw if anyone is curious why i’m asserting that brock pierce, autumn radtke, and isabel maxwell were friends / already part of the same social group before Epstein invited Brock to speak at his conference and then Autumn "fell" out of that 25th story window, this is why:

#BrockPierce#Tether#AutumnRadtke#IsabelMaxwell#GhislaineMaxwell#RobertMaxwell #epstein #epsteincoverup #epsteinfiles #uspol #crypto #bitcoin #crime

2/ neither CNBC nor WSJ ran with a headline that even sort of implies Autumn Radtke committed suicide, instead using adjectives like "mysterious" and “unexplained” to describe her defenestration from a Singaporean high rise and subsequent demise.

one of the last people to see #AutumnRadtke alive was Steve Beauregard, chief executive and founder (with #BrockPierce) of #Singapore based GoCoin.

#epsteincoverup #epstein #epsteinfiles #uspol #trump #magacivilwar #bitcoin #crypto#Tether

3/ btw if anyone is curious why i’m asserting that brock pierce, autumn radtke, and isabel maxwell were friends / already part of the same social group before Epstein invited Brock to speak at his conference and then Autumn "fell" out of that 25th story window, this is why:

#BrockPierce#Tether#AutumnRadtke#IsabelMaxwell#GhislaineMaxwell#RobertMaxwell #epstein #epsteincoverup #epsteinfiles #uspol #crypto #bitcoin #crime

when i wrote my piece on Epstein's #crypto connections I forgot that #IsabelMaxwell (#Ghislaine's sister) was connected to #BrockPierce even before she invited Pierce to speak at epstein's #Mindshift conference.

Brock Pierce is a big nexus of connection from #Epstein to things like crypto and confirmed pedophile rings (other than his own).

both Maxwell & Pierce were socially close to a crypto broette named #AutumnRadke who died under extremely mysterious circumstances back in 2014. most people think she "fell out of a window", putin style.

* Epstein/Crypto: https://universeodon.com/@cryptadamist/114903591655332953
* NY Post on Radke's death: https://nypost.com/2014/03/06/bitcoin-firm-ceo-jumped-to-her-death-neighbor/

#jeffreyepstein #epsteinFiles#EpsteinList#HowardLutnick #trump#MAGAcivilwar#MAGA#BrockPierce#SteveBannon#ReidHoffman#PeterThiel#NerdReich#NetworkState#TheNerdReich#PamBondi#EhudBarak#Israel#Mossad#KGB#GhislaineMaxwell#RobertMaxwell #ukpol #uspol #uspolitics #eupol#CIA #intelligence#MI6#Tether#ValarVentures#EpsteinCoverup#Singapore

2/ neither CNBC nor WSJ ran with a headline that even sort of implies Autumn Radtke committed suicide, instead using adjectives like "mysterious" and “unexplained” to describe her defenestration from a Singaporean high rise and subsequent demise.

one of the last people to see #AutumnRadtke alive was Steve Beauregard, chief executive and founder (with #BrockPierce) of #Singapore based GoCoin.

#epsteincoverup #epstein #epsteinfiles #uspol #trump #magacivilwar #bitcoin #crypto#Tether

Tommi 🤯
Tommi 🤯 boosted

I Live 500 Feet From A Bitcoin Mine. My Life Is Hell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7_WDzPyoqU

We went to a small Texas town where one Bitcoin mining facility uses as much power as the entire city of Austin.
Everyone is town is affected by the constant noise from the crypto facility, even the animals.
One resident told us: "Every person here is sick.”

#Bitcoin#ClimateKiller#HealthDanger#Texas#Energy#Regulations#Politicians#Crypto#Sick#TrueCost

the former head of research at #coindesk - someone who spent most of a decade deep inside the crypto industry as a true believer - has written a long form piece titled "Money By Vile Means" about how the crypto industry has become something deeply evil, fucked up, and wholly dependent on the government systems it once sought to disrupt.

"From libertarian ideal to cynical state capture, I debunk the myths of #Bitcoin and reveal its dark reality."

https://www.compactmag.com/article/money-by-vile-means/

#crypto #cryptocurrency #uspol #eupol #money #finance #economics

the former head of research at #coindesk - someone who spent most of a decade deep inside the crypto industry as a true believer - has written a long form piece titled "Money By Vile Means" about how the crypto industry has become something deeply evil, fucked up, and wholly dependent on the government systems it once sought to disrupt.

"From libertarian ideal to cynical state capture, I debunk the myths of #Bitcoin and reveal its dark reality."

https://www.compactmag.com/article/money-by-vile-means/

#crypto #cryptocurrency #uspol #eupol #money #finance #economics

I Live 500 Feet From A Bitcoin Mine. My Life Is Hell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7_WDzPyoqU

We went to a small Texas town where one Bitcoin mining facility uses as much power as the entire city of Austin.
Everyone is town is affected by the constant noise from the crypto facility, even the animals.
One resident told us: "Every person here is sick.”

#Bitcoin#ClimateKiller#HealthDanger#Texas#Energy#Regulations#Politicians#Crypto#Sick#TrueCost