WonderFi CEO of Canadian encryption company was kidnapped! He was released after paying a million dollars ransom. How should encryption personnel protect themselves?

Recently, WonderFi CEO Dean Skurka was kidnapped during rush hour in downtown Toronto, triggering the encryption community to follow. Skurka eventually paid a ransom of $1 million before being released. In this regard, security expert Lopp pointed out that such physical crime incidents often increase with the rise of BTC prices, and the public needs to raise security awareness. (Synopsis: Binance assists justice" Hong Kong Police Force thanks letter: in recognition of the contribution of the encryption investigation in the kidnapping case) (Background supplement: 25-year-old Canadian "king of cryptocurrency" arrested!) Ponzi Scheme attracted 940 million yuan and was once kidnapped and beaten by creditors) As the market rises, robberies and kidnappings against people in the cryptocurrency industry have increased. Recently, Dean Skurka, CEO of WonderFi, a Canadian cryptocurrency company, was kidnapped during rush hour in downtown Toronto, an incident that sparked the encryption community. The day of the incident coincided with WonderFi's bright third-quarter earnings report, and Skurka was finally released after paying a ransom of $1 million. Skurka stresses that customer funds and data are safe According to local media reports, Skurka was forcibly taken into a car by kidnappers in downtown Toronto and demanded a ransom. Skurka was then released after paying $1 million electronically. Toronto police said they were reported by 6 p.m. that day in the University Avenue and Richmond Street W. areas. In the end, the police found Skurka in Centennial Park in Etobicoke, but fortunately he was not injured. Skurka confirmed to the media on Thursday that he was involved in the incident, but stressed that it was safe for now. "The safety and security of all WonderFi employees is paramount, and all customer funds and data are safe and unaffected by this incident," he said. At present, the police are still investigating, and no further details have been released. Skurka: This won't slow down WonderFi After the incident, Dean Skurka tweeted his thanks in the early hours of this morning, saying: I sincerely thank the Toronto business community and the global encryption community for their support. Toronto isn't just our headquarters, it's a city of innovation and resilience, and we're proud to be here. I want to reassure everyone that I am safe and in good condition now. This incident is under investigation by Toronto Police and I am providing full assistance. WonderFi is moving forward with some exciting new initiatives, and we're more determined than ever to build the future of cryptocurrency. This will not slow us down. It is understood that WonderFi is a cryptocurrency company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada, backed by Shark Tank co-host and multi-successful millionaire Kevin O'Leary, trading under the symbol WNDR. According to the latest data from Google Finance, the company's Market Cap is about $81.29 million. WonderFi focuses on developing, incubating and investing in centralized exchanges and decentralizationprotocols. Its two most popular products include its exclusive Layer 2 block chain "WonderFi" and its unmanaged wallet "WonderFi Wallet". Thank you to everyone who has reached out over the last few days. I’m truly grateful for the support from the Toronto business community and the global crypto community. Toronto is not just our headquarters; it's a city of innovation and resilience, and we're proud to be part... — Dean (@wonderfi_dean) November 8, 2024 Expert: The number of physical brute force thefts varies with BTC price For this case of physical violence in order to steal cryptocurrency, Cryptocurrency Security Company Jameson Lopp, Casa's co-founder and chief security officer, said Skurka's abduction is the 171st such case he is aware of. According to Lopp, the incidence of such crimes is usually positively correlated with the price of BTC. As BTC prices rise, more and more people follow the space, which also attracts more malicious criminals trying to estimate the return on investment of attacking Cryptocurrencyholders. BTC topped $75,000 on Wednesday, a record high, which may have further fueled the crime. Lopp noted that cryptocurrencies are more attractive to criminals than bank robberies because they are easy to transmit and seize. He said: "Even early millionaires often perform poorly on physical security measures, and they are often less rigorous in operational security and privacy protection. Lopp mentioned that kidnappings like this don't have to worry too much for the average person, unless it's a well-known person. However, he observes that even many high-profile individuals often do not meet the level of security measures and privacy protections appropriate to their risk profile, and there is a significant gap between their security awareness and actual risk. How can I protect myself? For such security incidents involving cryptocurrency, there are several suggestions: 1. Improve physical security: For high-net-worth and well-known cryptocurrencyholders, consideration should be given to improving physical security, including hiring a professional security team to regularly check the security risks of residences and daily itineraries. For example, Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, has his own bodyguard. 2. Strengthen operational security: It is recommended to adopt multi-factor authentication, keep cryptocurrency in cold Wallet, and store Wallet decentralized, do not put large assets on a single device or hot Wallet, and avoid carrying large Cryptocurrency assets that can be transferred immediately. 3. Improved privacy protection: High-profile individuals can take some anonymity or pseudonymity measures to reduce identity exposure. 4. Keep a low profile: Cryptocurrencyholders should avoid publicly showing off their assets, such as on social media, offline parties, etc., to avoid becoming a target for criminals. 5. Consider unexpected responses: In kidnapping or coercion situations, preset contingency plans, such as setting withdrawal limits or quickly freezing assets, to respond to emergencies. These measures can help cryptocurrencyholders enhance their self-protection against the risk and loss of such incidents. 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