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Investigating Wrench Attacks: Physical Attacks Targeting Cryptocurrency Users

Authors Marilyne Ordekian , Gilberto Atondo-Siu , Alice Hutchings , Marie Vasek

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Author Details

Marilyne Ordekian
  • Department of Computer Science, University College London, UK
Gilberto Atondo-Siu
  • Department of Computer Science, University of Cambridge, UK
Alice Hutchings
  • Department of Computer Science, University of Cambridge, UK
Marie Vasek
  • Department of Computer Science, University College London, UK

Funding

  • Ordekian, Marilyne: UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), grant No EP/S022503/1.
  • Atondo-Siu, Gilberto: European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, grant No 949127.
  • Hutchings, Alice: European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, grant No 949127.

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Marilyne Ordekian, Gilberto Atondo-Siu, Alice Hutchings, and Marie Vasek. Investigating Wrench Attacks: Physical Attacks Targeting Cryptocurrency Users. In 6th Conference on Advances in Financial Technologies (AFT 2024). Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), Volume 316, pp. 24:1-24:24, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2024) https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.AFT.2024.24

Abstract

Cryptocurrency wrench attacks are physical attacks targeting cryptocurrency users in the real world to illegally obtain cryptocurrencies. These attacks significantly undermine the efficacy of existing digital security norms when confronted with real-world threats. We present the first comprehensive study on wrench attacks. We propose a theoretical approach to defining wrench attacks per criminal law norms, and an interdisciplinary empirical approach to measure their incidence. Leveraging three data sources, we perform crime script analysis, detecting incidents globally across 10 interviews with victims and experts, 146 news articles, and 37 online forums. Our findings reveal diverse groups of attackers ranging from organized crime groups to friends and family, various modi operandi, and different forms of attacks varying from blackmail to murder. Despite existing since Bitcoin’s early days, these attacks are underreported due to revictimization fears. Additionally, unlike other cryptocurrency crimes, users with advanced security experience were not immune to them. We identify potential vulnerabilities in users' behavior and encourage cryptocurrency holders to lean into digital as well as physical safety measures to protect themselves and their cryptocurrency. We offer actionable recommendations for the security community and regulators, highlighting the double-edged sword of Know Your Customer policies.

Subject Classification

ACM Subject Classification
  • Applied computing → Law
  • Applied computing → Digital cash
  • Security and privacy → Social aspects of security and privacy
  • Social and professional topics → Financial crime
Keywords
  • cryptocurrency
  • Bitcoin
  • crime
  • wrench attack
  • physical attack

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