Russian Nuclear Scientists Connect Airgapped Supercomputer to Internet to Mine Cryptocurrencies
February 9th, 2018*har*
Via: BBC:
Russian security officers have arrested several scientists working at a top-secret Russian nuclear warhead facility for allegedly mining crypto-currencies.
The suspects had tried to use one of Russia’s most powerful supercomputers to mine Bitcoins, media reports say.
The Federal Nuclear Centre in Sarov, western Russia, is a restricted area.
The centre’s press service said: “There has been an unsanctioned attempt to use computer facilities for private purposes including so-called mining.”
The supercomputer was not supposed to be connected to the internet – to prevent intrusion – and once the scientists attempted to do so, the nuclear centre’s security department was alerted. They were handed over to the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Russian news service Mash says.
“As far as we are aware, a criminal case has been launched against them,” the press service told Interfax news agency.
Yet more evidence that intelligence is no defence against stupidity.
Maybe Putin needs to pay his nuclear scientists better, although these particular ones will likely have other more pressing issues to worry about now.