Crypto Mining Gone Wrong in Kyiv
In a surprising twist of workplace drama, an IT specialist in Kyiv has been accused of turning his office into a cryptocurrency mining rig. The event unfolded as the Kyiv Prosecutor’s Office took to their official Facebook page on February 26, announcing that a pre-trial investigation has been completed in collaboration with the State Bureau of Investigation.
Who is Our Unnamed Accused Miner?
The star of this unfortunate show is an unnamed technical aficionado who held several executive positions within the State Judicial Information Systems for an impressive stretch. Instead of focusing on his day job, it appears he decided to dabble in a bit of crypto mining—but not in the legal way. Reportedly, he hijacked the network equipment and installed malware to mine cryptocurrency, all while wearing his corporate badge!
Going Beyond Just Personal Gain
Not only was our tech-savvy friend mining for himself, but he also allegedly rolled out the welcome mat for third parties looking to use the office servers. Imagine this: paying for server space in a judicial information system—talk about multitasking! This side gig led to three online stores and a community hub for Chopper motorcycle enthusiasts sprouting on the office’s servers by August 2018.
Legal Consequences Await
As the investigation unfolds, the IT pro faces some serious charges: illegal interference with computer operations and distributing malware. If found guilty, he could spend up to six years in prison—a hefty price for pursuing a side hustle that went horribly wrong. Details on what specific cryptocurrencies were mined or how much he pocketed remain shrouded in mystery.
Not an Isolated Incident
This isn’t the first time a significant breach in the crypto world has made headlines in Ukraine. Back in August of last year, the Security Service of Ukraine busted a group of power plant operators suspected of mining in the Yuzhnoukrainsk nuclear power plant facility. And that’s not even the tip of the iceberg; engineers at the Russian Federal Nuclear Center also found themselves in hot water back in 2018 for attempting to use a supercomputer for Bitcoin mining.
Final Thoughts
This cautionary tale serves as a reminder that sometimes, the allure of cryptocurrency can lead professionals to take detours into shady waters. Whether it’s at the office or the power plant, using work resources for personal gain is a practice that can lead not just to project delays, but also to legal consequences. So, the next time you think about plugging in that mining rig at work, remember this tale of crypto gone rogue!
+ There are no comments
Add yours