NFT Influencer lost substantial amount via Google-Ad malware

Cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) like digital assets are in nascent stage and prone to even insignificant threats. Recently reported instances of an NFT influencer losing a significantly worthy digital asset also falls within the same category.

On January 14, “NFT God,” a fictitious user with a large following on Twitter, released a string of tweets outlining how his “entire digital existence” had been compromised, including his cryptocurrency wallet and numerous internet identities.

NFT influencer alleges that they unintentionally downloaded malicious malware obtained from a Google Ad search result, which caused them to lose “a life-changing sum” of their net worth in non fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrency.

NFT God, also known as “Alex,” claimed he utilized Google’s search engine to download OBS, an open-source video streaming programme. He chose the sponsored advertisement for what he believed to be the same product, though, rather than clicking on the official website.

Before moving the majority of the ETH to the decentralized exchange (DEX) FixedFloat, where it was exchanged for unidentified cryptocurrencies, the attacker moved it through several wallets.

Alex thinks that setting up his hardware wallet as a hot wallet by inserting its seed phrase “in a way that no longer kept it cold,” or offline, facilitated the wallet attack and gave the hackers access to his crypto and NFTs.

The Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) NFT, with a current floor price of 16 ETH, worth 25,000 USD, as well as other other NFTs, were taken from Alex’s wallet, according to blockchain data, along with at least 19 Ethereum (ETH) 1,532 USD, which was worth close to 27,000 USD at the time.

Alex discovered his cryptocurrency wallet had also been hijacked after receiving a message from a friend. His Substack account was compromised the following day, and hackers sent phishing emails to his 16,000 subscribers.

Unfortunately, the crypto industry has had to cope with malware that steals cryptocurrency using Google Ads before, as was the case with NFT God.

An information-stealing malware named “Rhadamanthys Stealer” was spreading through Google Ads on “very convincing phishing webpages,” according to a Jan. 12 report from cybersecurity company Cyble.

Andrew is a blockchain developer who developed his interest in cryptocurrencies while his post-graduation. He is a keen observer of details and shares his passion for writing along with being a developer. His backend knowledge about blockchain helps him give a unique perspective to his writing