Sydney guy gets jail time for mining over AU$9,000 in crypto using CSIRO gear

So, this dude in Sydney got sentenced for mining more than AU$9,000 worth of crypto on CSIRO equipment. The whole crypto mining thing is kinda funny, right? Like, supposedly the profits aren't that great, but how does someone that intelligent think they can pull this off without getting caught? Not the first time we've seen stuff like this though. Remember those Russian nuclear scientists who got pinched for a 'Bitcoin mining plot'? Makes you think how many folks will try to exploit their positions just to get a piece of the crypto pie, especially if they have access to supercomputers like that.

Oof. Diverting AU$76,000 worth of computing power to mine AU$9,400 worth of cryptocurrency. Such a muppet. Also, what did he assume would happen once someone noticed the performance degradation? Happily coinciding with him starting to work there, handling the very infrastructure that is all of a sudden causing troubles? (no one will ever beat the Russian nuclear scientists though, bringing an airgapped nuclear system online...)

The lure of cryptocurrency is indeed something to contend with in the face of supposedly free and powerful hardware!  This case and that of the Russian nuclear scientists are just but few deals gone bad as there're quite a number of persons out there that have gone against work ethics and turned their work place computer(s) for cryptocurrency mining. It doesn't cost a fortune to own a mining rig and their paychecks can get them one, so the crime way ought not be attractive.

You would really have those kind of thoughts or things in mind when you are on the position since you do know that you can really took advantage on that one but without even thinking that once you get caught then you'll surely fucked up and these are the examples of those people who do took advantage and making such step for their own benefit without even thinking the risk and charges against them. They thought that they wont be caught which is impossible yet everything is monitored when it comes to centralized systems.This should be an eye opener for those people who do tend to make such the same abuse of power/position.

I am not a specialist in mining, but is mining with these devices profitable? This story is inaccurate, perhaps it has been installed programs from a third party that he does not know about, or that he is greedy to make a profit by all possible means. The risks that may lead to discovering that the mining was done with his device, in addition to the legal issue that will be easy, are higher risks compared to the expected profits from such an investment. Finally, how can research centers have devices with viruses that work for a while without periodic checks for these devices?

I'm sure they know the risk, this is not someone who just discovered those machines and have a little knowledge. Maybe they think no one is going to find out what they are doing or they are simply greedy and opportunistic person to create this elaborate scheme. And perhaps this is how they caught him, they did some checking themselves and boom, someone is using their resources to profit from crypto mining, start investigating and found out who the culprit, file cases against them.

Since he spent AU$76,000 worth of computing power on mining AU$9,000 worth of crypto I'd say it's the kind of profitable where you only make money if you're not the one paying for electricity and hardware.

Mining without paying for electricity and without your own gear that you have to buy will always be profitable. Otherwise, no, supercomputers are not really designed for mining, even for non-sha256 coins, they come in custom configurations that most of the time are really badly tailored for mining, except probably cpu coins like monero. If the guy that does the checks is the one mining, it can be possible. Probably they've calculated the damage taken by hours lost in research and then multiplied it by the total cost of the facility, not just electricity costs. Shitty wy of estimating damages but it does match with the way this guy was mining.

Mad Lad. Well, Greed is human nature right? Even so, people like that have gone too far in my opinion. It's was of course very interesting chance because they don't pay for the Electricity Cost and Hardware but still there are always consequences. Just hope no one does anything like that anymore in the future, Thanks for the information mate!

I would actually do something more important on those computing power if I have the knowledge rather than use it to mine cryptocurrencies. Usually on these computers, there are tons of security measures that are put into place to ensure that there isn't any time wasted that these guys are running just for something futile. Good thing the dude is caught, and I can't help but say that he is stupid for trading such a measly amount for his freedom and his integrity. I mean, it's pretty tempting and all to use all of that computing power for mining but there are tons of news wherein people who did just this were put behind bars. I guess he's one to add on the statistics now.

You shouldn't. You aren't allowed to use company property or resources for anything else other than the task you are told to do. The company can fire you and even sue you for using their resources without their permission for your gain. Even if you were trying to do something more "important" that isn't anywhere near the interest of the company. And the guy who got caught, he was actually stupid. Probably thought no one was going to notice anything. That was brave of him to use federal government property for his own gain.

Not in the sense that it's for my personal gain, but rather for what the machine's actual intended use, like modeling and other science-y stuff. Working in the biochemistry field, I know the importance of combining science with computers to discover something new, and we have been aiming to know more than what we already do for the past decades. I clearly know the consequences of such actions, and that would result into me being deprived of most job opportunities due to my history if the company files a case, and for sure I don't want that. Perhaps I have worded my reply ambiguously that if given the chance, I will use the supercomputer into something that could benefit me but no.

There will be people who can access these types of machine will exploit these, they should have a thorough background check for all the people who are going to access these supercomputers. If only work ethics are strictly enforced in any working environment, I do not think that this kind of incident will happen.

Thieves usually don't care about the damage they cause. Think of him like that guy who breaks through a security glass worth $1000 to steal a few bottles of whiskey and some cigarettes worth $100. These guys get tunnel visioned when they see an opportunity. They don't think of the damages and consequences of their actions. As a contractor he would've made more than 9k a year and now with a record he'll be washing dishes in a diner.

For that amount 14 months of imprisonment is not worth it for AU$76,000 worth he damaged he should also get a fine and all the Cryptocurrency he mined should be confiscated if he still has those coins, of course he will lose his license to practice his professions, not really worth and this is a big warning for future offenders,.