Today, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the appointment of Eun Young Choi, veteran
cybersecurity
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is a blanket term that refers to the protection of computer systems and networks from the theft.More broadly speaking, cybersecurity can also represent countermeasures against damage to hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.It was not long ago that the term cybersecurity not exist as it was first used in 1989. In today’s vernacular cybersecurity, refers to measures taken to protect a computer or computer system or a network against hacking or unauthorized access. Why Cybersecurity MattersCybersecurity is a huge concern for individuals given our reliance on computers, laptops, smart phones, the Internet, etc.These cyberattacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information, extorting money from users, or interrupting normal business processes. Implementing effective cybersecurity measures is particularly challenging today because there are more devices than people, and attackers are becoming more innovative. In the modern world, with every person and business connected, everyone benefits from advanced cyber-defense programs. At an individual level, a cybersecurity attack can result in everything from identity theft, to extortion attempts, to the loss of essential data like family photos. Everyone relies on critical infrastructures like power plants, hospitals, and financial service companies. Securing these and other organizations is vital to keeping our society functioning. Significant sources of cybersecurity threats include phishing, ransomware, malware, and social engineering, among others.With the rise of cryptocurrencies over the past decade, cybersecurity has also reached even greater importance a safeguard against abuse.
Cybersecurity is a blanket term that refers to the protection of computer systems and networks from the theft.More broadly speaking, cybersecurity can also represent countermeasures against damage to hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.It was not long ago that the term cybersecurity not exist as it was first used in 1989. In today’s vernacular cybersecurity, refers to measures taken to protect a computer or computer system or a network against hacking or unauthorized access. Why Cybersecurity MattersCybersecurity is a huge concern for individuals given our reliance on computers, laptops, smart phones, the Internet, etc.These cyberattacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information, extorting money from users, or interrupting normal business processes. Implementing effective cybersecurity measures is particularly challenging today because there are more devices than people, and attackers are becoming more innovative. In the modern world, with every person and business connected, everyone benefits from advanced cyber-defense programs. At an individual level, a cybersecurity attack can result in everything from identity theft, to extortion attempts, to the loss of essential data like family photos. Everyone relies on critical infrastructures like power plants, hospitals, and financial service companies. Securing these and other organizations is vital to keeping our society functioning. Significant sources of cybersecurity threats include phishing, ransomware, malware, and social engineering, among others.With the rise of cryptocurrencies over the past decade, cybersecurity has also reached even greater importance a safeguard against abuse.
Read this Term prosecutor, to lead the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), a new unit it established last year tasked with investigating crypto-related crimes.
Choi, a former Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General, Lisa O. Monaco, will become the NCET’s first-ever Director. Monaco made the announcement while speaking virtually at the Munich Cyber Security Conference today.
In her new role, Choi will lead the NCET team to undertake ongoing DOJ investigations where crypto coins and digital assets are used to launder criminal profits.
Choi and the NCET will especially focus on cryptocurrency exchanges, mixing and tumbling services, infrastructure providers, and other firms that are facilitating the misuse of crypto assets and related technologies to commit criminal activities.
In addition, Choi’s team will be in charge of training and supporting federal, state, local and international law enforcement agencies and help them understand, investigate, and develop cases against criminal groups that use crypto coins to hide the origin of their funds.
The Justice Department selected Choi due to her prior expertise in cybercrime cases. As mentioned above, Choi recently worked as senior counsel to the deputy attorney general. Moreover, she worked at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York for nine years, serving as an assistant U.S. attorney and cybercrime coordinator.
Also, Choi performed various crucial legal duties. She participated in the investigation into a rogue crypto exchange, Coin.mx as well as the Panama Papers investigation. She defended the US Justice Department in an appeal filed by Ross Ulbricht, the Chief Administrator and Founder of the Silk Road, the first darknet marketplace. Further, Choi served as the lead prosecutor when J.P. Morgan Chase was hacked.
Preventing Illicit Use of Crypto
In October last year, the US Justice Department created a team, the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), to investigate crypto-related crime. Early this month, the agency seized $3.6 billion in
Bitcoin
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is the world’s first digital currency that was created in 2009 by a mysterious entity named Satoshi Nakamoto. As a digital currency or cryptocurrency, Bitcoin operates without a central bank or single administrator. Instead, Bitcoin can be sent via a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networking, devoid of intermediaries.Bitcoins are not issued or backed by any governments or banks, and Bitcoin is not considered to be legal tender, although they do have status as an acknowledged transfer of value in some jurisdictions. Rather than composing a physical currency, Bitcoins are pieces of code that can be sent and received across a kind of distributed ledger network called a blockchain. Transactions on the Bitcoin network are confirmed by a network of computers (or nodes) that solve a series of complex equations. This process is called mining. In exchange for mining, the computers receive rewards in the form of new Bitcoins. Mining grows increasingly difficult over time, and the rewards get smaller and smaller. There is a total of 21 million Bitcoins. As of May 2020, there are 18.3 million Bitcoins in circulation. This number changes approximately every 10 minutes when new blocks are mined. Presently, each new block adds 12.5 bitcoins into circulation.Since its inception, Bitcoin has remained the most popular and largest cryptocurrency in terms of market cap in the world. Bitcoin’s popularity has contributed significantly to the release of thousands of other cryptocurrencies, called “altcoins.” While the crypto market was originally hegemonic, today’s landscape features countless altcoins.Bitcoin ControversyBitcoin has been extremely controversial since its original launch. Given its mercurial nature, Bitcoin has been criticized for its use in illegal transactions and money laundering.As its impossible to trace, these attributes make Bitcoin the ideal vehicle for illicit behavior. Moreover, critics point to its high electricity consumption for mining, rampant price volatility, and thefts from exchanges. Bitcoin has been seen as a speculative bubble given its lack of oversight. The crypto has weathered multiple collapses and survived over a decade so far. Unlike its launch back in 2009, Bitcoin today is viewed far differently and is much more accepted by merchants and other entities.
Bitcoin is the world’s first digital currency that was created in 2009 by a mysterious entity named Satoshi Nakamoto. As a digital currency or cryptocurrency, Bitcoin operates without a central bank or single administrator. Instead, Bitcoin can be sent via a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networking, devoid of intermediaries.Bitcoins are not issued or backed by any governments or banks, and Bitcoin is not considered to be legal tender, although they do have status as an acknowledged transfer of value in some jurisdictions. Rather than composing a physical currency, Bitcoins are pieces of code that can be sent and received across a kind of distributed ledger network called a blockchain. Transactions on the Bitcoin network are confirmed by a network of computers (or nodes) that solve a series of complex equations. This process is called mining. In exchange for mining, the computers receive rewards in the form of new Bitcoins. Mining grows increasingly difficult over time, and the rewards get smaller and smaller. There is a total of 21 million Bitcoins. As of May 2020, there are 18.3 million Bitcoins in circulation. This number changes approximately every 10 minutes when new blocks are mined. Presently, each new block adds 12.5 bitcoins into circulation.Since its inception, Bitcoin has remained the most popular and largest cryptocurrency in terms of market cap in the world. Bitcoin’s popularity has contributed significantly to the release of thousands of other cryptocurrencies, called “altcoins.” While the crypto market was originally hegemonic, today’s landscape features countless altcoins.Bitcoin ControversyBitcoin has been extremely controversial since its original launch. Given its mercurial nature, Bitcoin has been criticized for its use in illegal transactions and money laundering.As its impossible to trace, these attributes make Bitcoin the ideal vehicle for illicit behavior. Moreover, critics point to its high electricity consumption for mining, rampant price volatility, and thefts from exchanges. Bitcoin has been seen as a speculative bubble given its lack of oversight. The crypto has weathered multiple collapses and survived over a decade so far. Unlike its launch back in 2009, Bitcoin today is viewed far differently and is much more accepted by merchants and other entities.
Read this Term that it said was linked to the 2016 hack of the Hong Kong cryptocurrency exchange, Bitfinex.
The agency has been investigating criminal cases associated with crypto trading and transactions and charging individuals culpable of crime. The Justice department especially has continued to partner with federal agencies such as HSI (Homeland Security Investigations), ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and IRS (Internal Revenue Service) to leverage their established programs and resources related to tracking illicit actors who use cryptocurrencies.
Furthermore, the DOJ continues to partner with private sector firms and financial institutions to gain insight into crypto transactions (through blockchain-based forensics analysis) to identify transactions associated with illicit activities.
Today, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the appointment of Eun Young Choi, veteran
cybersecurity
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is a blanket term that refers to the protection of computer systems and networks from the theft.More broadly speaking, cybersecurity can also represent countermeasures against damage to hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.It was not long ago that the term cybersecurity not exist as it was first used in 1989. In today’s vernacular cybersecurity, refers to measures taken to protect a computer or computer system or a network against hacking or unauthorized access. Why Cybersecurity MattersCybersecurity is a huge concern for individuals given our reliance on computers, laptops, smart phones, the Internet, etc.These cyberattacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information, extorting money from users, or interrupting normal business processes. Implementing effective cybersecurity measures is particularly challenging today because there are more devices than people, and attackers are becoming more innovative. In the modern world, with every person and business connected, everyone benefits from advanced cyber-defense programs. At an individual level, a cybersecurity attack can result in everything from identity theft, to extortion attempts, to the loss of essential data like family photos. Everyone relies on critical infrastructures like power plants, hospitals, and financial service companies. Securing these and other organizations is vital to keeping our society functioning. Significant sources of cybersecurity threats include phishing, ransomware, malware, and social engineering, among others.With the rise of cryptocurrencies over the past decade, cybersecurity has also reached even greater importance a safeguard against abuse.
Cybersecurity is a blanket term that refers to the protection of computer systems and networks from the theft.More broadly speaking, cybersecurity can also represent countermeasures against damage to hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.It was not long ago that the term cybersecurity not exist as it was first used in 1989. In today’s vernacular cybersecurity, refers to measures taken to protect a computer or computer system or a network against hacking or unauthorized access. Why Cybersecurity MattersCybersecurity is a huge concern for individuals given our reliance on computers, laptops, smart phones, the Internet, etc.These cyberattacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information, extorting money from users, or interrupting normal business processes. Implementing effective cybersecurity measures is particularly challenging today because there are more devices than people, and attackers are becoming more innovative. In the modern world, with every person and business connected, everyone benefits from advanced cyber-defense programs. At an individual level, a cybersecurity attack can result in everything from identity theft, to extortion attempts, to the loss of essential data like family photos. Everyone relies on critical infrastructures like power plants, hospitals, and financial service companies. Securing these and other organizations is vital to keeping our society functioning. Significant sources of cybersecurity threats include phishing, ransomware, malware, and social engineering, among others.With the rise of cryptocurrencies over the past decade, cybersecurity has also reached even greater importance a safeguard against abuse.
Read this Term prosecutor, to lead the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), a new unit it established last year tasked with investigating crypto-related crimes.
Choi, a former Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General, Lisa O. Monaco, will become the NCET’s first-ever Director. Monaco made the announcement while speaking virtually at the Munich Cyber Security Conference today.
In her new role, Choi will lead the NCET team to undertake ongoing DOJ investigations where crypto coins and digital assets are used to launder criminal profits.
Choi and the NCET will especially focus on cryptocurrency exchanges, mixing and tumbling services, infrastructure providers, and other firms that are facilitating the misuse of crypto assets and related technologies to commit criminal activities.
In addition, Choi’s team will be in charge of training and supporting federal, state, local and international law enforcement agencies and help them understand, investigate, and develop cases against criminal groups that use crypto coins to hide the origin of their funds.
The Justice Department selected Choi due to her prior expertise in cybercrime cases. As mentioned above, Choi recently worked as senior counsel to the deputy attorney general. Moreover, she worked at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York for nine years, serving as an assistant U.S. attorney and cybercrime coordinator.
Also, Choi performed various crucial legal duties. She participated in the investigation into a rogue crypto exchange, Coin.mx as well as the Panama Papers investigation. She defended the US Justice Department in an appeal filed by Ross Ulbricht, the Chief Administrator and Founder of the Silk Road, the first darknet marketplace. Further, Choi served as the lead prosecutor when J.P. Morgan Chase was hacked.
Preventing Illicit Use of Crypto
In October last year, the US Justice Department created a team, the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), to investigate crypto-related crime. Early this month, the agency seized $3.6 billion in
Bitcoin
Bitcoin
Bitcoin is the world’s first digital currency that was created in 2009 by a mysterious entity named Satoshi Nakamoto. As a digital currency or cryptocurrency, Bitcoin operates without a central bank or single administrator. Instead, Bitcoin can be sent via a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networking, devoid of intermediaries.Bitcoins are not issued or backed by any governments or banks, and Bitcoin is not considered to be legal tender, although they do have status as an acknowledged transfer of value in some jurisdictions. Rather than composing a physical currency, Bitcoins are pieces of code that can be sent and received across a kind of distributed ledger network called a blockchain. Transactions on the Bitcoin network are confirmed by a network of computers (or nodes) that solve a series of complex equations. This process is called mining. In exchange for mining, the computers receive rewards in the form of new Bitcoins. Mining grows increasingly difficult over time, and the rewards get smaller and smaller. There is a total of 21 million Bitcoins. As of May 2020, there are 18.3 million Bitcoins in circulation. This number changes approximately every 10 minutes when new blocks are mined. Presently, each new block adds 12.5 bitcoins into circulation.Since its inception, Bitcoin has remained the most popular and largest cryptocurrency in terms of market cap in the world. Bitcoin’s popularity has contributed significantly to the release of thousands of other cryptocurrencies, called “altcoins.” While the crypto market was originally hegemonic, today’s landscape features countless altcoins.Bitcoin ControversyBitcoin has been extremely controversial since its original launch. Given its mercurial nature, Bitcoin has been criticized for its use in illegal transactions and money laundering.As its impossible to trace, these attributes make Bitcoin the ideal vehicle for illicit behavior. Moreover, critics point to its high electricity consumption for mining, rampant price volatility, and thefts from exchanges. Bitcoin has been seen as a speculative bubble given its lack of oversight. The crypto has weathered multiple collapses and survived over a decade so far. Unlike its launch back in 2009, Bitcoin today is viewed far differently and is much more accepted by merchants and other entities.
Bitcoin is the world’s first digital currency that was created in 2009 by a mysterious entity named Satoshi Nakamoto. As a digital currency or cryptocurrency, Bitcoin operates without a central bank or single administrator. Instead, Bitcoin can be sent via a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networking, devoid of intermediaries.Bitcoins are not issued or backed by any governments or banks, and Bitcoin is not considered to be legal tender, although they do have status as an acknowledged transfer of value in some jurisdictions. Rather than composing a physical currency, Bitcoins are pieces of code that can be sent and received across a kind of distributed ledger network called a blockchain. Transactions on the Bitcoin network are confirmed by a network of computers (or nodes) that solve a series of complex equations. This process is called mining. In exchange for mining, the computers receive rewards in the form of new Bitcoins. Mining grows increasingly difficult over time, and the rewards get smaller and smaller. There is a total of 21 million Bitcoins. As of May 2020, there are 18.3 million Bitcoins in circulation. This number changes approximately every 10 minutes when new blocks are mined. Presently, each new block adds 12.5 bitcoins into circulation.Since its inception, Bitcoin has remained the most popular and largest cryptocurrency in terms of market cap in the world. Bitcoin’s popularity has contributed significantly to the release of thousands of other cryptocurrencies, called “altcoins.” While the crypto market was originally hegemonic, today’s landscape features countless altcoins.Bitcoin ControversyBitcoin has been extremely controversial since its original launch. Given its mercurial nature, Bitcoin has been criticized for its use in illegal transactions and money laundering.As its impossible to trace, these attributes make Bitcoin the ideal vehicle for illicit behavior. Moreover, critics point to its high electricity consumption for mining, rampant price volatility, and thefts from exchanges. Bitcoin has been seen as a speculative bubble given its lack of oversight. The crypto has weathered multiple collapses and survived over a decade so far. Unlike its launch back in 2009, Bitcoin today is viewed far differently and is much more accepted by merchants and other entities.
Read this Term that it said was linked to the 2016 hack of the Hong Kong cryptocurrency exchange, Bitfinex.
The agency has been investigating criminal cases associated with crypto trading and transactions and charging individuals culpable of crime. The Justice department especially has continued to partner with federal agencies such as HSI (Homeland Security Investigations), ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and IRS (Internal Revenue Service) to leverage their established programs and resources related to tracking illicit actors who use cryptocurrencies.
Furthermore, the DOJ continues to partner with private sector firms and financial institutions to gain insight into crypto transactions (through blockchain-based forensics analysis) to identify transactions associated with illicit activities.
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