If you think Bitcoin is the problem of the recent ransomware attacks, you probably don't know much about Bitcoin. Blaming Bitcoin for ransomware attacks makes no sense. You don't blame the dollar when a bank is robbed, do you? It's as silly as blaming the internet or electricity.
The only root problem for ransomware though, is that hackers are able to get unauthorized access to a system. Using Windows without installing the latest patches is like locking your bike like this:
Your Windows computer looks like this when you turn Windows Update off:
So please, update the latest patches or use a safer operating system like Linux (which you still have to update of course).
Or use an old Nokia 3310 instead of a smartphone... Oh wait...
Image source: Twitter
If you still blame Bitcoin for the largest ransomware attacks in internet history, let me explain something.
- Ransomware exists since 1989. Bitcoin exists since 2009. Without bitcoin, hackers would just be asking for prepaid cards just like they did back in the 2000's.
- It's technically impossible to ban Bitcoin. If a goverment would forbid their citizens to pay with Bitcoin or to store Bitcoin, the currency and the technology would still exists. Even if all countries would ban Bitcoin there are numerous other cryptocurrencies left. You would have to ban the whole Blockchain technology, but a technology can't be banned. Once a technology has been invented and made known to the public, it's available. That can't be undone. It's like un-inventing the wheel or something.
If you are a victim of the latest ransomware attacks you can only blame yourself. You didn't patch your outdated operating system back in March while a patch was available.
Hopefully these ransomware attacks are a major precursor to better security. Otherwise, when the internet of things arrives we would end in a world like this:
TL;DR: Don't blame cryptocurrencies for ransomware. Update your operating system and STEEM ON! :)