Bitstamp’s website and service came under DDoS attack on October 15, 2012, completely disabling the services as of around 11:00 PM GMT. The attackers sent the following note to Nejc Kodrič, the exchanges’ founder and CEO:
Dear Bitstamp’s friends,
I’m DarkRobinHood, me and my friends we live in the Internet environments.Like my namesake used me to give equity in this world, I don’t like to steal, perhaps I prefer to invite people like you that works in the financial and economic markets, in general on the freedom and democracy’s Bitcoin, coming to us.
The increased taxes, your arrogance and your injustice way to take money from us, only to deceive people that you are doing a honest job, got my attention.
I’d like to invite you, with kindness, to give 75BTC before 12:00(GMT+1) on 10/16/2012 to the next Bitcoin Address: 1k966rggo3h85URb5unrXeYYWP7dBzz5G . This money is going to be used for our noble cause. If you don’t get my apeal we’ll find ourselves in a position to gap you, to kick you out of our country.
Showing that I’m not talking nosense, even this night you will have a small taste of what it will happen to you. My honor doesn’t let me to abey you in such way, it should be a lesson for you of thinking before you do something.
Sincerely,
Dark Robin Hood
Nejc refuses to give in to the demands, saying that Bitstamp’s policy is to not negotiate with “terrorists”. Bitstamp’s sysadmin, assures all users that efforts are being made to bring back up the website as soon as possible.
UPDATE: As of 5:00 AM GMT, Bitstamp is back online. At this point, it appears as though the attackers have given up on their attack.
UPDATE: As of 11:00 AM GMT, Bitstamp is again under attack. Nejc told us that during the next few hours he will release more information regarding the attacker.
UPDATE: As of 8:00 PM GMT, Bitstamp is back online. Nejc Kodrič made the following announcement:
Yesterday at 11am access to Bitstamp was disrupted due to a DDoS attack. Bitstamp responded by upgrading its DDoS mitigation capabilities and recovered full accessibility at 8pm.
Service has been fully restored and no Bitcoins or client information were ever at risk or lost.
Additionally, to help make up for the inconvenience caused by the service outage, Bitstamp will be providing commission free trading until Sunday 21st.
Would you give in to the ransom, or wait out the attack?