Crypto Users Warned of Rising Hacker Attacks on News Sites

Cryptocurrency users are being urged to exercise heightened caution when granting wallet permissions, as hackers have been targeting prominent crypto news websites to exploit unsuspecting users. Changpeng Zhao, the CEO of Binance, issued a warning about the increasing sophistication of these attacks, which involve embedding malicious scripts into news sites to steal users' private keys or other sensitive information.

Recently, two major incidents have highlighted this growing threat. Two days ago, CoinMarketCap was targeted, and now Cointelegraph has also fallen victim to similar attacks. In the case of CoinMarketCap, preliminary on-chain analysis revealed 39 victims with a total loss of $18,570. The Cointelegraph website was compromised, displaying a pop-up window with "airdrop" content that could not be closed. Similarly, CoinMarketCap users were prompted to "verify their wallets" through a malicious pop-up window.

The primary method used by these hackers involves injecting malicious code into the websites, which can then be triggered when users connect their wallets to the site. This code can steal the user's private keys, allowing the hackers to gain full control over their wallets. Zhao emphasized the importance of users being vigilant and only granting permissions to trusted and verified sites. He also advised users to use hardware wallets, which offer an additional layer of security by keeping private keys offline.

The rise in these types of attacks underscores the growing threat posed by cybercriminals in the crypto space. As the value of cryptocurrencies continues to rise, so too does the incentive for hackers to target users. This latest warning from Zhao serves as a reminder for users to remain cautious and take steps to protect their assets. Users should be wary of any requests for wallet permissions and should always verify the legitimacy of the site before granting access. Additionally, users should consider using multi-factor authentication and other security measures to further protect their accounts.