[ad_1]
NFT influencer claims he lost a ‘life-changing amount’ of net worth in non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and crypto after accidentally downloading malicious software found in Google Ads search results .
The pseudo-anonymous influencer, known on Twitter as “NFT God”, posted a series of tweets on Jan. 14 explaining how his “whole digital life” was, including the compromise of his cryptocurrency wallet and multiple online accounts. I explained that I was attacked by
Last night my entire digital life was compromised.
All accounts that are personally and professionally connected to me have been hacked and used to harm others.
It’s not that important, but I lost a life-altering amount of net worth
— NFT God (@NFT_GOD) January 15, 2023
NFT God, also known as ‘Alex’, said he used Google’s search engine to download OBS, an open-source video streaming software, instead of clicking on the official website, and that he clicked on the sponsored ad. I thought it was the same as
A few hours after the attackers posted a series of phishing tweets on two Twitter accounts operated by Alex, Alex found that malware had been downloaded from a sponsored ad along with the software he wanted.
Following a message from an acquaintance, Alex finds that his crypto wallet has also been compromised. The next day, the attacker compromised his Substack account and sent a phishing email to 16,000 subscribers.
Then, I received the long-awaited DM. “Dude, did you WETH your ape?”
Open the Opensea bookmark for the apes and it’s there. A completely different wallet listed as the owner.
At that moment, I knew it was all gone. All.All ciphers and NFTs ripped from me
— NFT God (@NFT_GOD) January 15, 2023
Blockchain data reveals at least 19 Ether (ETH) worth close to $27,000 at the time, a Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) NFT with a current lowest price of 16 ETH ($25,000), and multiple other NFTs from Alex’s It indicates that it was sucked out of the wallet.
The attackers moved most of the ETH through multiple wallets before sending it to the decentralized exchange (DEX) FixedFloat, where it was exchanged for unknown cryptocurrencies.
Alex says that the “gross mistake” that allowed the wallet to be hacked was to set the hardware wallet as a hot wallet and enter its seed phrase “in a way that no longer kept it cold” or take it offline so that hackers could is able to control virtual currency. and NFTs.
Related: Navigating the Crypto World: Tips to Avoid Scams
Unfortunately, NFT God’s experience isn’t the first time the cryptocurrency community has dealt with cryptocurrency-stealing malware on Google Ads.
A Jan. 12 report from cybersecurity firm Cyble warned that an information-stealing malware dubbed “Rhadamanthys Stealer” is spreading via Google Ads on “a highly convincing phishing webpage.” increase.[s]”
In October 2022, Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao warned that Google results were promoting crypto-phishing and fraudulent websites in search results.
Google did not respond to Cointelegraph’s request for comment. However, Google says in its Help He Center that it “actively works with trusted advertisers and partners to help prevent malware in their ads.”
It also describes the use of “proprietary technology and malware detection tools” to periodically scan Google ads.
Cointelegraph was unable to replicate Alex’s search results or confirm whether the malicious website was still active.
[ad_2]
Source link
