A YouTube duo has managed to recover three million dollars’ worth of Bitcoin that had been lost since 2013. The story, which reads like something out of a science fiction novel, involves the use of unconventional hacking methods to crack a corrupted password and unlock a treasure trove of digital currency.

The saga began in 2013 when an anonymous Bitcoin holder, referred to only as ‘Michael,’ stored nearly 44 bitcoins, valued at approximately $5,300 at the time, in a hot wallet protected by a randomly generated 20-character password created by RoboForm. However, Michael encountered a devastating setback when he lost access to his password after storing it in an encrypted file that later became corrupted, rendering it inaccessible.

Faced with the prospect of losing his substantial Bitcoin holdings forever, Michael turned to Joe Grand, an electrical engineer renowned for his hardware-hacking expertise and his popular YouTube channel. Initially hesitant to take on the seemingly insurmountable challenge, Grand and his friend, software hacker Bruno, eventually relented and embarked on a daring quest to recover Michael’s lost fortune.

The duo’s journey involved reverse engineering RoboForm, the password management software used by Michael, in a bid to uncover a potential loophole that could lead to the recovery of the lost password. After painstakingly analyzing the code within RoboForm’s programs, they stumbled upon a revelation: an earlier version of the software had a flaw that tied password generation to the time and date on the user’s computer.

However, the task was far from straightforward. Michael couldn’t recall the exact time or date at which he had created the password, nor could he confirm whether it contained special characters. Undeterred, Grand and Bruno persevered, testing thousands of password combinations in a relentless pursuit of the elusive key to Michael’s Bitcoin vault.

Their breakthrough finally came when they decided to explore the possibility that the password was created without special characters. Running their script once more, they struck gold: the original password was generated on May 15, 2013, at 4:10:40 pm GMT, unlocking access to Michael’s long-lost Bitcoin fortune.

The emotional reunion between Michael and his ‘lost’ Bitcoin took place during an interview, where Grand surprised him with a check representing his recovered funds. The entire adventure was captured on camera and shared with the world through their YouTube channel, providing viewers with a firsthand glimpse into the thrill of the hunt and the joy of success.

As the dust settles on this extraordinary feat, questions arise regarding the implications for Bitcoin holders everywhere. Michael, now reunited with his digital wealth, plans to wait until Bitcoin’s price reaches $100,000 before selling his coins, signaling his confidence in the cryptocurrency’s future growth potential.

Meanwhile, Wired reports that Siber, the company behind RoboForm, has confirmed that the flaw related to password generation has been addressed in subsequent software updates, although they have remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the fix. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust security measures in safeguarding valuable digital assets in an increasingly interconnected world.

In conclusion, the tale of Michael’s lost Bitcoin and its eventual recovery serves as a testament to human ingenuity and perseverance in the face of technological challenges. Through innovation, determination, and a touch of luck, the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of cryptocurrency have been pushed, offering hope to Bitcoin holders worldwide and inspiring future generations of digital adventurers.