Ethereum: A short time to generate the block would make Finney attack more difficult?
The Ethereum community has faced the threat of a Finney attack, also known as « double-key block » or « Fud ». This type of attack involves an attacker presenting a block containing conflict transactions, which can then be used to steal funds from other users’s wallets. The traditional solution for mitigating this risk is to increase the block generation time (BGT), but a recent proposal suggests that reducing BGT could make Finney attack more difficult.
What is the Finney attack?
The Finney attack exploits a weakness in the Ethereum protocol, which allows an attacker to create a conflict transaction and then use it to spend funds from other users. This can lead to a loss of up to 100% of the stolen funds, which makes a significant threat to the stability of the Ethereum network.
Traditional Solution: Increased Block Generation Time
The traditional solution for alleviating the Finney attack is BGT growth to make it more difficult for an attacker to prepare a conflict block. By increasing BGT, users are encouraged to validate transactions in a timely manner and are less likely to fall victim to this type of attack.
Reduced block generation time: A new proposal
A recent proposal suggests that BGT reduction could make Finney attack more difficult for many reasons:
- Increased attack surface
: with a small BGT, the attack surface becomes larger, which makes it easier for an attacker to prepare the pre-extension of a conflict block.
- Reduced incentive : reduced BGT reduces users stimulus to validate timely transactions, which makes funds more likely to be stolen without detection.
- Increased time for conflict resolution : with short BGT, it can take longer to resolve conflicts, giving a longer attacker to exploit them.
Attacking the risk of a Finney attack
While BGT reduction could make Finney attack more difficult, there are still more steps that can be taken to alleviate this risk:
- Increased user checking : implementing robust users verification processes may contribute to reducing the probability of false beginnings and increasing the general security of the network.
- Improving transaction validation : Improving transaction validation mechanisms can help detect conflicts earlier and prevent them from spreading.
- Conflict monitor : Periodic monitoring of Ethereum blockchain is essential to detect and respond quickly to possible potential conflicts.
In conclusion, the reduction of BGT could make Finney attack more difficult, but it is not an unexpected solution. A multi -facet approach that includes user checking, improved transactions and periodic monitoring is still necessary to alleviate this risk. The Ethereum community should continue to work together to develop effective solutions to prevent this type of attack.
related question: What can be done to mitigate the risk of a Finney attack?
The risk of a Finney attack requires a comprehensive approach that involves several layers of protection, including:
- User checking : Implementation of robust users verification processes can contribute to reducing the probability of false beginnings and increasing the general security.
- Validation of improved transactions : Improving transaction validation mechanisms can help detect conflicts earlier and prevent them from spreading.
- Regular monitoring : The periodic monitoring of the Ethereum blockchain is essential to detect and respond quickly to any potential conflicts.
Working together, the Ethereum community can develop effective solutions to prevent this type of attack and maintain the integrity of the network.