Encryption news
'Privacy has become a taboo,' says crypto anarchist project DarkFi
The first critique of centralized authority was introduced by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon in 1848, a few years after publishing his now-classic book What is Property?, calling for the abolition of property and the state. As per Proudhon's view, without economic change, any political change would be limited. His work is at the heart of anarchism, "a political theory that is skeptical of the justification of authority and power," according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Almost two centuries later, Proudhon's thoughts about economics and power still echo in society, with encryption tools paving the way for parts of the ideal society …
Blockchain / Feb. 19, 2023
What is decentralized storage, and how does it work?
Businesses face several problems when storing data on-premises. There are steep technical and cost issues in scaling infrastructure up and down, and maintaining storage area networks is a challenge. One also has to deal with complex problems in data compatibility and security. These challenges have led to the emergence of a cloud storage model that delivers scalability, agility, security, cost savings and simplicity. Fortune Business Insights expects the global cloud storage market to grow from $83.41 billion in 2022 to $376.37 billion by 2029. Cloud storage enables users to save data at an off-site location through the public internet or …
Decentralization / Feb. 9, 2023
Decentralized Twitter alternative goes live on Apple's App Store
Damus, a so-called “Twitter killer” built on a decentralized network has been approved on the Apple App Store. The Damus team confirmed the approval to its 11,500 Twitter followers on Jan. 31, following what it claims was at least three rejections from the Big Tech player. Shortly after, Twitter co-founder and Nostr contributor Jack Dorsey shared the news with his 6.5 million followers, with the entrepreneur labeling it as a “milestone” moment for open source protocols: a milestone for open protocols...#nostr is now officially on the Apple App Store with @damusapp:https://t.co/GQmvPE5nfX — jack (@jack) January 31, 2023 The app dubs …
Decentralization / Feb. 1, 2023
US prosecutors seek to ban SBF from Signal after alleged witness contact
Federal prosecutors have requested that former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried's (SBF) bail conditions are modified to prevent further alleged attempts at influencing witnesses’ testimonies. Court documents filed on Jan. 27 revealed that The Department of Justice (DOJ) have asked U.S. District Court Judge LewiKaplan to ban Bankman-Fried from communicating with “current or former employees” of FTX or Alameda. The prosecutors have requested this after they alleged that Bankman-Fried had reached out to Ryne Miller, the current General Counsel of FTX US, on Jan. 15 attempting to “influence” Miller’s testimony. The document stated: “I would really love to reconnect and see …
Regulation / Jan. 28, 2023
Aztec Network secures $100 million in Series B funding led by a16z
The private layer-2 chain Aztec Network announced on Dec. 15 a $100 million Series B funding round led by venture capital firm a16z crypto. Other investors in the round include A Capital, King River, Variant, SV Angel, Hash Key, Fenbushu, and AVG. By partnering with a16z, the company plans to hire new engineers and build a "next-generation encrypted architecture" that allows users to verify that blockchain rules were followed without revealing any underlying information. Encrypted blockchains allow users to transact with privacy and anonymity. “What we’re building is a revolutionary piece of technology that transforms how we interact with each …
Blockchain / Dec. 15, 2022
Telegram to allow no-sim accounts via anon-blockchain-numbers
Messaging app Telegram has rolled out a new update enabling users to create accounts using blockchain-based anonymous numbers, as opposed to cell phone numbers. Telegram already hides people’s private phone numbers from non-added users on the app, however, users will now be able to hide numbers from everyone, which is likely to please people who value privacy-focused features. The messaging platform has become a popular app for crypto enthusiasts. The move is part of a 9.2 update launched on Dec. 6, which also enables users to auto-delete timers on messages in new chats. Ultimate Privacy: No-SIM Signup, Auto-Delete All Chats, …
Blockchain / Dec. 8, 2022
Tornado Cash is the latest chapter in the war against encryption
The sanctions imposed by the United States government on Tornado Cash have reignited a public debate on privacy. For many in the relatively young crypto community, such an intervention by the federal government seems groundbreaking. However, tussles between the private sector and the state on the issue of privacy are far from new and can provide compelling insights on what we might expect next for privacy in the crypto industry. In the 1990s, Phil Zimmermann released Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), one of the first openly available public-key cryptography applications that featured end-to-end (E2E) encryption. Zimmerman’s creation prompted a criminal investigation …
Technology / Sept. 21, 2022
Organizations look toward multiparty computation to advance Web3
Protecting user data and private keys is crucial as Web3 advances. Yet, the number of hacks that have occurred within the Web3 space in 2022 alone has been monumental, proving that additional security measures, along with greater forms of decentralization, are still required. As this becomes obvious, a number of organizations have started leveraging multiparty computation, or MPC, to ensure privacy and confidentiality for Web3 platforms. MPC is a cryptographic protocol that utilizes an algorithm across multiple parties. Andrew Masanto, co-founder of Nillion – a Web3 startup specializing in decentralized computation – told Cointelegraph that MPC is unique because no …
Decentralization / Aug. 16, 2022
The crypto industry must do more to promote encryption, says Meltem Demirors
“I like to call myself a future, or aspiring, cult leader,” Meltem Demirors, chief strategy officer of CoinShares — a publicly listed investment firm managing around $5 billion in assets — told Cointelegraph. Demirors, who first entered the Bitcoin (BTC) space in late 2012, further mentioned that it has been “fun to see how big the crypto sector has become,” noting that people from all walks of life are now interested in the cryptocurrency space. As such, Demirors explained that “crypto cults” are bringing people together in a positive manner, especially since it gives people a sense of purpose and …
Decentralization / June 15, 2022
Platform aims to address privacy concerns in messaging apps with a solution built on Solana
Messaging apps are commonplace in our day-to-day interactions, with more than 3.6 billion people worldwide using them. For perspective, the average person is estimated to send up to 72 messages every day. While messaging has dramatically opened up the door to communication, recent high-profile events have shown just how concerning the management of data collected from these apps can be. In September 2021, WhatsApp was fined 255 million euros for data sharing violations. Before this, in August 2020, Telegram suppressed a data leak that exposed the personal information of nearly 500 million of its users. Although these concerns were brought …
Blockchain / Nov. 11, 2021
After launching DApp to rival WhatsApp, blockchain wants to take on Instagram
A blockchain project says it strives to make this technology accessible and safe for everyone, all while offering military-grade encryption to ensure user data is private and secure. The Jupiter Project says its encryption capabilities are the underpinning for secure DApps that boast an array of innovative features — including decentralized voting, file sharing, DEX, asset creation, NFT markets, the creation of new cryptocurrencies, and cross-border payments. It is already being traded across a number of exchanges too, including KuCoin, Uniswap and PancakeSwap. To this end, a multi-chain bridge has been established to ensure the native cryptocurrency can be moved …
Technology / July 29, 2021
Kaseya recovers data stolen in ransomware attack with mysterious decryption tool
IT software provider, Kaseya, has announced it is providing its clients with a decryption tool to recover customer data that was locked in a ransomware attack earlier this month. In a July 26 notice on its website, the global technology firm stated it has been assisting its customers with the restoration of their encrypted data in partnership with cybersecurity company Emsisoft. It has been issuing a mysterious “decryptor” tool enabling customers to access data that had been locked by the malware disseminated in the July 2 attack. “The decryption tool has proven 100% effective at decrypting files that were fully …
Technology / July 27, 2021