Hackers claim to have stolen files that may belong to the NSA. Credit: National Security Agency
Michael Kan
IDG News Service
Oct 3, 2016 12:18 PM
The ShadowBrokers' auction for the hacking tools has so far generated little interest.
The hackers who are auctioning off cyberweapons allegedly stolen from the National Security Agency are growing annoyed and want cash.
The ShadowBrokers' sale of the stolen tools has so far generated little interest, and over the weekend, the hackers complained in a message posted online, using broken English.
"TheShadowBrokers is not being interested in fame. TheShadowBrokers is selling to be making money," the hackers said.
As of Monday, their auction only had one substantial bid at 1.5 bitcoins, or US $918. Many of the other bids were valued at less than $1.
The hackers originally dumped a sample of the stolen hacking tools back in mid-August, and independent security experts later found the tools to actually work. The tools include exploits designed to compromise firewall and router products from Cisco, Juniper Networks, and Fortinet and are probably worth a fortune.
The hackers claim they have more cyber weapons to sell. However, they've taken the unusual step of offering them up through an open online auction relying on bitcoin.
Although anyone can participate, the hackers haven't said when they'll accept the final bid. The hackers also hoped to receive 1 million bitcoins, or $611 million, in exchange for leaking all they stole for free to the public.
The unusual conditions have led some security researchers to suspect the auction is a publicity stunt. But the ShadowBrokers claim in their latest posting that the auction is real, despite "sounding crazy."
"Expert peoples is saying Equation Group Firewall Tool Kit worth $1 million," the group said
The ShadowBrokers' sale of the stolen tools has so far generated little interest, and over the weekend, the hackers complained in a message posted online, using broken English.
"TheShadowBrokers is not being interested in fame. TheShadowBrokers is selling to be making money," the hackers said.
As of Monday, their auction only had one substantial bid at 1.5 bitcoins, or US $918. Many of the other bids were valued at less than $1.
The hackers originally dumped a sample of the stolen hacking tools back in mid-August, and independent security experts later found the tools to actually work. The tools include exploits designed to compromise firewall and router products from Cisco, Juniper Networks, and Fortinet and are probably worth a fortune.
The hackers claim they have more cyber weapons to sell. However, they've taken the unusual step of offering them up through an open online auction relying on bitcoin.
Although anyone can participate, the hackers haven't said when they'll accept the final bid. The hackers also hoped to receive 1 million bitcoins, or $611 million, in exchange for leaking all they stole for free to the public.
The unusual conditions have led some security researchers to suspect the auction is a publicity stunt. But the ShadowBrokers claim in their latest posting that the auction is real, despite "sounding crazy."
"Expert peoples is saying Equation Group Firewall Tool Kit worth $1 million," the group said
