The blog post details a successful effort to decrypt files encrypted by the Akira ransomware, specifically the Linux/ESXi variant from 2024. The author achieved this by leveraging the power of multiple GPUs to significantly accelerate the brute-force cracking of the encryption key. The post outlines the process, which involved analyzing the ransomware's encryption scheme, identifying a weakness in its key generation (a 15-character password), and then using Hashcat with a custom mask attack on the GPUs to recover the decryption key. This allowed for the successful decryption of the encrypted files, offering a potential solution for victims of this particular Akira variant without paying the ransom.
A plasticizer called B2E, used in dampeners within vintage hard drives, is degrading and turning into a gooey substance. This "goo" can contaminate the platters and heads of the drive, rendering it unusable. While impacting mostly older Seagate SCSI drives from the late 90s and early 2000s, other manufacturers like Maxtor and Quantum also used similar dampeners, though failure rates seem lower. The degradation appears unavoidable due to B2E's chemical instability, posing a preservation risk for data stored on these drives.
Several Hacker News commenters corroborate the article's claims about degrading dampers in older hard drives, sharing personal experiences of encountering the issue and its resulting drive failures. Some discuss the chemical composition of the deteriorating material, suggesting it's likely a silicone-based polymer. Others offer potential solutions, like replacing the affected dampers, or using freezing temperatures to temporarily harden the material and allow data recovery. A few commenters note the planned obsolescence aspect, with manufacturers potentially using materials with known degradation timelines. There's also debate on the effectiveness of storing drives vertically versus horizontally, and the role of temperature and humidity in accelerating the decay. Finally, some users express frustration with the lack of readily available replacement dampers and the difficulty of the repair process.
SQLite Page Explorer is a Python-based tool for visually inspecting the raw structure and content of SQLite database pages. It allows users to navigate through pages, examine headers and cell pointers, view record data in different formats (including raw bytes), and understand how data is organized on disk. The tool offers both a command-line interface and a graphical user interface built with Tkinter, providing flexibility for different user preferences and analysis needs. It aims to be a helpful resource for developers debugging database issues, understanding SQLite internals, or exploring the low-level workings of their data.
Hacker News users generally praised the SQLite Disk Page Explorer tool for its simplicity and educational value. Several commenters highlighted its usefulness in visualizing and understanding the internal structure of SQLite databases, particularly for learning and debugging purposes. Some suggested improvements like adding features to modify the database or highlighting specific data types. The discussion also touched on the tool's performance limitations with larger databases and the importance of understanding how SQLite manages pages for efficient data retrieval. A few commenters shared their own experiences and tools for exploring database internals, showcasing a broader interest in database visualization and analysis.
Autodesk has partially restored older forum posts and IdeaStation content after significant community backlash regarding their archiving. While not all content has returned, and some functionality like search remains limited, the restored material covers a substantial portion of previously accessible information. Autodesk acknowledges the inconvenience the archiving caused and states their commitment to improving the process and platform moving forward, though a definitive timeline for full restoration and improved search functionality is yet to be determined. They encourage users to continue providing feedback.
HN commenters lament the loss of valuable technical information caused by Autodesk's forum archiving, with several noting the irony of a CAD software company failing to preserve its own data. Some praise the partial restoration, but criticize the lack of search functionality and awkward organization within the archive. Others express frustration that Autodesk hasn't learned from past mistakes and continues to undervalue its community knowledge base. The company's reliance on a single employee for the restoration is viewed with concern, highlighting the perceived fragility of the archive. Several suggest alternative archival solutions and express skepticism that Autodesk will maintain the restored content long-term. A recurring theme is the broader problem of valuable technical forums disappearing across the web.
The blog post details how the author lost access to a BitLocker-encrypted drive due to a Secure Boot policy change, even with the correct password. The TPM chip, responsible for storing the BitLocker recovery key, perceived the modified Secure Boot state as a potential security breach and refused to release the key. This highlighted a vulnerability in relying solely on the TPM for BitLocker recovery, especially when dual-booting or making system configuration changes. The author emphasizes the importance of backing up recovery keys outside the TPM, as recovery through Microsoft's account proved difficult and unhelpful in this specific scenario. Ultimately, the data remained inaccessible despite possessing the password and knowing the modifications made to the system.
HN commenters generally concur with the article's premise that relying solely on BitLocker without additional security measures like a TPM or Secure Boot can be risky. Several point out how easy it is to modify boot order or boot from external media to bypass BitLocker, effectively rendering it useless against a physically present attacker. Some commenters discuss alternative full-disk encryption solutions like Veracrypt, emphasizing its open-source nature and stronger security features. The discussion also touches upon the importance of pre-boot authentication, the limitations of relying solely on software-based security, and the practical considerations for different threat models. A few commenters share personal anecdotes of BitLocker failures or vulnerabilities they've encountered, further reinforcing the author's points. Overall, the prevailing sentiment suggests a healthy skepticism towards BitLocker's security when used without supporting hardware protections.
This spreadsheet documents a personal file system designed to mitigate data loss at home. It outlines a tiered backup strategy using various methods and media, including cloud storage (Google Drive, Backblaze), local network drives (NAS), and external hard drives. The system emphasizes redundancy by storing multiple copies of important data in different locations, and incorporates a structured approach to file organization and a regular backup schedule. The author categorizes their data by importance and sensitivity, employing different strategies for each category, reflecting a focus on preserving critical data in the event of various failure scenarios, from accidental deletion to hardware malfunction or even house fire.
Several commenters on Hacker News expressed skepticism about the practicality and necessity of the "Home Loss File System" presented in the linked Google Doc. Some questioned the complexity introduced by the system, suggesting simpler solutions like cloud backups or RAID would be more effective and less prone to user error. Others pointed out potential vulnerabilities related to security and data integrity, especially concerning the proposed encryption method and the reliance on physical media exchange. A few commenters questioned the overall value proposition, arguing that the risk of complete home loss, while real, might be better mitigated through insurance rather than a complex custom file system. The discussion also touched on potential improvements to the system, such as using existing decentralized storage solutions and more robust encryption algorithms.
Summary of Comments ( 44 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43365083
Several Hacker News commenters expressed skepticism about the practicality of the decryption method described in the linked article. Some doubted the claimed 30-minute decryption time with eight GPUs, suggesting it would likely take significantly longer, especially given the variance in GPU performance. Others questioned the cost-effectiveness of renting such GPU power, pointing out that it might exceed the ransom demand, particularly for individuals. The overall sentiment leaned towards prevention being a better strategy than relying on this computationally intensive decryption method. A few users also highlighted the importance of regular backups and offline storage as a primary defense against ransomware.
The Hacker News post titled "Decrypting encrypted files from Akira ransomware using a bunch of GPUs" (linking to tinyhack.com/2025/03/13/...) generated several comments discussing the technical aspects and broader implications of the decryption process.
Several commenters focused on the brute-force nature of the decryption, highlighting the significant computational resources required, specifically the use of multiple GPUs. They discussed the cost and time involved in such an undertaking, emphasizing that this approach is not a readily available solution for most victims. One commenter pointed out the importance of the relatively short key length (in this specific case) as crucial to the success of the brute-force method. They noted that longer keys would render this approach impractical due to the exponentially increasing computational demands.
Another commenter questioned the practicality of the solution, suggesting that restoring from backups would be a more efficient approach in most scenarios. This spurred a discussion about the importance of robust backup strategies as a primary defense against ransomware attacks. Others countered that backups are not always foolproof, sometimes being targeted or unavailable, making decryption a viable option in certain situations.
The conversation also touched upon the ethical implications of publishing decryption tools. One commenter expressed concern that publicly releasing such tools might incentivize ransomware developers to improve their encryption methods, making future attacks more difficult to counter. This sparked a debate about the balance between helping victims and potentially aiding future attackers.
A few commenters delved into the technical details of the decryption process, discussing the specific algorithms and tools used. They also explored the limitations of the method, emphasizing its dependence on the specific characteristics of the Akira ransomware variant.
Finally, some commenters expressed appreciation for the author's work, recognizing the effort involved in developing and sharing the decryption tool. They acknowledged the potential benefits for victims, while also acknowledging the complexities and limitations of the approach.