Announcing GLOK: The Next Chapter in Bitcoiners' Arms Race
First, a little bit of history...
THE QUEST FOR A SECURE BITCOINER BEGINS
In 2013, bitcoin users primarily relied on desktop wallets such as Bitcoin Core, MultiBit, or Electrum, which stored private keys in a wallet.dat file on their computer's hard drive. Viruses and malware were widespread, specifically targeting these wallet.dat files to steal bitcoin. It was the beginning of the Bitcoin Malware Era.
To combat online threats, Trezor introduced the world's first hardware wallet. A common question received was, "How much #BTC do I need to own to justify buying a hardware wallet?" With Trezor priced at 1 BTC (approximately $90), the advice was straightforward: "Any amount, even less than 1 BTC." Some users were skeptical, especially those with modest holdings.
...However, within just three months, the price of bitcoin increased tenfold, highlighting the importance of securing digital assets with a dedicated hardware solution. Today, hardware wallets are a ubiquitous part of bitcoiners' security strategies, with plenty of different options available in the market to choose from.
THE RISE OF DIGITAL RANSOM
Around the same time, crypto ransomware attacks started to emerge. Hackers remotely locked computers and stole data, demanding bitcoin ransoms. Initially, these attacks focused on end-users. Notable examples include CryptoLocker from 2013, which caused substantial financial harm, with approximately $3 million extorted in ransom payments during its peak or WannaCry, which infected an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 computers across more than 150 countries in 2017.
As bitcoin's value surged, so did the sophistication and scope of these attacks. Ransomware began targeting businesses, leading to the development of Ransomware as a Service (RaaS). Today, over 70% of companies face ransomware attacks each year, resulting in billions of dollars in annual damages. The highest ransom paid to date was a record-breaking $75 million in Bitcoin to the Dark Angels ransomware group by Cencora, surpassing the previous record of $40 million paid by CNA Financial in 2021.
THE ERA OF WRENCH ATTACKS HAS ARRIVED
With bitcoin surging past $100,000, extortion tactics have evolved. The stakes are no longer just about reputation, data, and money; physical violence is becoming more prevalent.
Centralized exchanges and bitcoin companies, such as Gemini, Robinhood, Ledger, and Coinbase, which have suffered customer data leaks, often avoid discussing the true risks associated with such breaches. Every bitcoin user knows that KYC (Know Your Customer) procedures are intrusive, but the primary concern isn't just potential phishing attacks or increased taxation. The rising threat of kidnappings, assaults, and extortions, which have become almost weekly occurrences (with over 60% of cases possibly unreported), is the real issue.
Our founder @alenasatoshi's focus on securing risks has driven her for over 20 years, from risk management and insurance products to building BTC hardware wallets (now ubiquitous) to collaborating with @Casa to enhance physical security through user-friendly multisig.
@Jameson Lopp's detailed documentation of physical attacks and extensive speaking has been invaluable in bringing this topic to public awareness. His talks and blog posts, along with Rigel Walshe's presentation, are a good start for those who want to get better prepared. For those who enjoy reading, Michael Bazzell's Extreme Privacy is a great resource, however in many cases only applicable to US citizens.
However, reading and listening may not be enough. Avoiding dark streets or strangers won't suffice, as kidnappings often occur in broad daylight, and attackers exploit existing trust. While a robust wallet setup is crucial, it doesn't guarantee safety. Attackers are becoming bolder and more physical.
AND SO THE ARMS RACE CONTINUES...
To assist bitcoiners in distress, I sought a reliable tracking but found only bulky panic buttons and intrusive surveillance that depend on other devices or a vendor's network of phones, or software that constantly tracks their users and creates yet another honeypot for criminals.
Bitcoiners care deeply about privacy, and the ability to work autonomously and covertly, so these options do not fit the bill.
This is where @GLOK comes in.
GLOK is more than just a private geolocation solution built on the Nostr protocol; it's a comprehensive security service designed to empower and secure bitcoiners and their families.
Our project covers multiple areas as you might guess, but for now, we're excited to reveal the first two of these 👇
1. GLOK SECURITY TRAINING
GLOK's training programs are aimed at developing habits and skills for enhanced personal security. The offer includes a first-of-its-kind Counter-Kidnapping Training, tailored for bitcoin and cryptoasset owners.
These training sessions are conducted by seasoned security professionals with combat experience and a hands-on approach. Participants will learn from experts who have managed extreme risk situations for decades and have protected many clients. The lecturers will provide instruction on anticipating and avoiding threats from kidnappers, thieves, and unwanted surveillance.
To help bitcoiners assess their personal situation and start making improvements even before the training, a Physical Security Checklist is made available for free download.
Download the checklist HERE: 
We are planning to release more training soon. To keep an eye on this, follow us here on Nostr, as well as on...
X: 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glok.me
Facebook: 
2. GLOK APP
The GLOK App is a private geolocation software designed to launch an alert in distress and send it to a predefined list of watchers.
Let's build our parallel, private and decentralized "army of guardian angels"!
HERE'S HOW THE APP WORKS:
Upon activation of the alert button, GLOK sends the user's location in an encrypted message via the Nostr network. The app is built on several key principles:
PRIVACY FIRST:
GLOK does not store any user information or location data. It finds you locally, on demand, and encrypts all sensitive data.
RESILIENCE: Reliable alert delivery is ensured through the use of redundant Nostr relays and a strong system of notifications.
CONNECTING COMMUNITY:
All core functionalities are free, enabling neighborhood watch capabilities. Users can form a network of trust to look out for each other.
OPEN-SOURCE:
The GLOK App will invite anyone to review its design and implementation for security and transparency.
We will release a beta soon for testing - sign up here to be one of GLOK's first users – help us fix bugs and improve its functionality 👇
For now, this is all we will share, but stay tuned, more is coming.
STAY STRONG, RESILIENT, AND SAFE OUT THERE, FELLOW BITCOINERS!
GLOK.ME
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