Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT Discord Compromised Again with 200 ETH Carted Away

The Discord server of the iconic Non-Fungible Token (NFT) project, Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) has been exploited again as criminals gain access to the manager’s profile to post fake mint links.

The breach was first identified by a Twitter user @NFTHerder, an on-chain analyst and security expert who noted that the criminals gain access to Yuga Labs’ social media manager, Boris Vagner’s account.

“Our Discord servers were briefly exploited today. The team caught and addressed it quickly. About 200 ETH worth of NFTs appear to have been impacted. We are still investigating, but if you were impacted, email us at discord@yugalabs.io,” Yuga Labs tweeted to confirm the news.

The NFT startup also warned its users that it does not conduct free mints or any of the surprise giveaways that are often portrayed on Discord, which has caused investors a lot of pain in recent times.

Discord has grown to become a very prominent hub for Web3.0 projects and particularly NFT collections. As much as the platform has a lot of features that make it an ideal place to show the sophistication in design by NFT projects, incessant hacks and exploits are generally making the platform highly unusable.

As NFTHerder pointed out, as many as 70 projects saw their Discord servers compromised in May with OpenSea, Blockworks, Cool Cats, Alpha Kongs Club, and Okay Bears amongst the most popular. 

With the growing rate of exploitation of NFT and blockchain-related startups, a new level of security is highly sought after with many proponents already advocating for the emergence of a decentralized social media platform that will be powered by blockchain technology. 

The race to get these decentralized social media platforms is already underway, and besides Bluesky which is being bankrolled by Twitter, many other innovators in the space are also reportedly working on a similar solution.

Mysten Labs of Sui Blockchain Hacked on Discord

Normal
0

false
false
false

EN-US
X-NONE
X-NONE

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

Sui blockchain designers Mysten Labs is the latest blockchain firm to face a crypto hack. The firm has announced that its Discord server has been hacked.

The blockchain company has warned people not to click any links posted on the server in the eight hours prior to its Twitter announcement and said that the team is working to fix the mess.

An unverified screenshot shared on Twitter stated that hackers had put a link of a rumoured crypto airdrop on the announcement channel in the server. Mysten Labs made such an announcement on Saturday, and so far, no other further updates have been published.

Sui blockchain, a permissionless proof-stake blockchain, is the first product offered by Mysten Labs, launched in March this year. 

Mysten Labs, a web3 infrastructure firm, was established by Evan Cheng, Sam Blackshear, Adeniyi Abiodun, and George Danezis, four former developers from Meta’s once-ambitious cryptocurrency project Novi. In the past, the four specialists were involved in the development of the Diem blockchain and its Move programming language.

Last December, Mysten Labs raised a $36 million funding round participated by high-profile investors, including Andreessen Horowitz and Coinbase Ventures. Last month, Mysten Labs announced that it was targeting a $2 billion valuation.

 $1.4 Billion Stolen This Year Through Breaches

This year, hacks and scams have hit crypto investors hard. Cybercriminals have so far found a particularly useful avenue – blockchain bridges – to siphon customers’ funds.

Blockchain bridges, which normally connect networks to enable the fast swaps of tokens, are getting increasing popularity as a way for crypto users to do transactions. Thanks to blockchain bridge technology, crypto users are bypassing centralized exchanges.

However, since the beginning of this year, a total of about $1.4 billion has been lost through breaches on such cross-chain bridges. According to blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, the bridge exploits are happening at a striking rate as they are a new phenomenon.

In February, Wormhole, one of the most popular bridges linking the Ethereum and Solana blockchains, was hit by a hack that stole around $320 million.

In June, hackers stole $100 million in cryptocurrency from Horizon, a so-called blockchain bridge developed by crypto start-up Harmony.

Early this month, hackers stole almost $200 million from Nomad, a bridge protocol for transferring crypto tokens across different blockchains.

Fake Arbitrum Airdrop Scam Circulated on Discord

The blockchain security company CetriK issued a warning on March 25 about a phishing link that was being spread via the official Discord server of Arbitrum, which is a prominent cryptocurrency platform. According to the sources, it was believed that the link was disseminated via the stolen Discord account of one of the developers working on the Arbitrum project.

In the phishing communication, an option to re-claim an extra share in Arbitrum DAO Governance was presented, with the justification that there had been problems with the first token claim campaign. On the other hand, the accompanying URL had a misspelling of Arbitrum as “Arbtirum,” which is a frequent kind of deceit employed in phishing assaults.

If an unwary victim were to click on the phishing link, they would be sent to a false website where they would be prompted to input sensitive information such as the private key to their digital wallet. Investors run the danger of having their bitcoin assets stolen by con artists as a result of this.

Investors have been cautioned to refrain from engaging with the bogus statement until Arbitrum gives more information on the matter. Since cybercriminals are continuing to capitalize on the excitement around cryptocurrencies, it is vital for investors to maintain a heightened vigilance and be wary of deceptive promises and claims that are unrealistic.

In a separate but related piece of news, it was revealed that two airdrop hunters had successfully obtained nearly $3.3 million worth of Goods, demonstrating the tremendous benefits that may come from successfully participating in airdrops. While taking part in airdrops or any other activity linked to cryptocurrencies, however, it is essential for investors to do enough research and be vigilant against the possibility of falling victim to a hoax.

In general, the event serves as a useful reminder of how important it is to exercise extreme caution and vigilance whenever one engages in activities that are associated to cryptocurrencies. Since con artists are likely to use more sophisticated strategies as the business continues to get more attention, it is crucial for investors to stay knowledgeable and attentive at all times.

Arbitrum Discord Server Hacked for Phishing Attack

Arbitrum, a blockchain platform that aims to provide fast and low-cost transactions, recently experienced a security breach on its official Discord server. On March 25, security firm CetriK warned the crypto community about a possible phishing attack being circulated through the server. According to reports, a hacked Discord account belonging to one of Arbitrum’s developers was used to share a fake announcement with a phishing link.

The phishing message on Discord offered users “the opportunity to re-claim an additional stake in Arbitrum DAO Governance,” citing issues during the initial token claim drive. However, the URL supporting the announcement contained a misspelling of Arbitrum as “Arbtirum,” which is a common tactic used by hackers in phishing attacks. Clicking on the link typically leads unsuspecting users to a fake website that prompts them to enter sensitive information, such as their wallet’s private key.

As of now, Arbitrum has not released an official statement regarding the incident. Investors are advised to avoid interacting with the announcement until further clarification is provided. It is essential to remain vigilant against unrealistic claims and deceptions as hackers continue to exploit the hype surrounding cryptocurrency.

Meanwhile, two airdrop hunters were able to take advantage of the situation and collect approximately $3.3 million worth of ARB tokens. Airdrops are promotional events where crypto projects distribute free tokens to users who complete certain tasks, such as sharing a post on social media or joining a Telegram group. However, it is crucial to exercise caution when participating in airdrops, as scammers often impersonate legitimate projects to steal users’ personal information or funds.

In recent years, the crypto community has seen an increase in phishing attacks and other types of cybercrime. As the value of cryptocurrencies continues to rise, so does the incentive for hackers to target investors and platforms. It is crucial to follow best security practices, such as using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, and avoiding suspicious links and emails. By remaining vigilant and informed, users can protect themselves from potential threats and enjoy the benefits of the crypto revolution.

SSV Network Discord Compromise Resolved: Channel Back to Normal and Under Control

SSV Network ($SSV), a leading infrastructure provider for decentralized Ethereum staking applications, has announced that its Discord channel, which was compromised earlier today, is now “back to normal and under control.”

Incident and Quick Resolution

The company initially alerted its community at 5:35 AM on August 31, 2023, with a tweet stating, “THE SSV DISCORD HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. Please DO NOT click on any links claiming to give you an airdrop or anything of the matter. We are sorting this out ASAP. Stay SAFE!” The warning tweet received 1,846 views, 3 reposts, 1 quote, and 4 likes within 8 hours.

However, in a swift response to the situation, SSV Network later updated its Twitter feed to confirm that the issue had been resolved. “Discord is back to normal and under control. Apologies for the inconvenience!” read the follow-up tweet.

Significance of Quick Recovery

The quick recovery and control of the Discord channel are significant, especially given the platform’s role in community engagement for crypto projects. Discord channels are often the hub for important announcements, including airdrops and staking opportunities. A compromised channel could have far-reaching implications, including potential scams and phishing attacks targeting community members.

Implications and Future Measures

While SSV Network has not disclosed the details of the compromise or the steps taken for the quick recovery, the incident does raise questions about the security measures in place for community engagement platforms in the crypto space. However, the company’s prompt action to regain control and normalize the situation may serve as a case study in effective crisis management within the crypto industry.

A Series of Discord Compromises

The recent compromise of SSV Network’s Discord channel is not an isolated incident in the crypto world. It serves as a stark reminder to exercise caution when encountering airdrops and giveaways, especially before connecting to your crypto wallet.

For instance, on March 25, 2023, CetriK issued a warning about a phishing link circulating on the official Discord server of Arbitrum. The event emphasized the need for vigilance when interacting with community platforms, as even official channels can be compromised.

Similarly, on August 29, 2022, Mysten Labs, the designers behind the Sui blockchain, announced that their Discord server had been hacked. The team urged users not to click on any links posted in the eight hours leading up to their Twitter announcement, highlighting the urgency required to address such security lapses.

These incidents collectively underscore the importance of robust security measures and user awareness in the crypto community, especially as platforms like Discord become increasingly integral to community engagement and information dissemination.

About SSV Network

SSV Network is a decentralized Ethereum staking infrastructure that enhances security and fault tolerance by distributing a validator key among multiple non-trusting node instances. Utilizing a unique consensus mechanism, the protocol transforms a validator key into a multisig construct, offering benefits like offline key storage and ‘active to active’ redundancy. Originating as a research piece by the Ethereum Foundation in 2019, it has evolved into a DAO-governed, community-driven network. Scheduled to launch its mainnet in early 2022, SSV Network aims to expand its robust staking solutions to other Proof-of-Stake chains.

Coinbase's Base Bootcamp Launches to Address Onchain Developer Shortage

Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 network, has announced the beginning of Base Bootcamp, an eight-week, cohort-based program with the goal of converting experienced software engineers into smart contract developers. Base Bootcamp will focus on teaching participants how to build smart contracts. The blockchain sector is facing a large talent deficit, with less than 30,000 onchain developers compared to almost 30 million conventional software professionals. This endeavor comes at a time when the blockchain industry is facing a substantial talent shortage.

According to the official release, the program is geared for “mid to senior level software engineering individual contributors.” For the purpose of providing individualized instruction and practical experience to each student, each class will have fewer than twenty members. The deadline for submitting applications to be a part of the subsequent batch is October 27.

Applicants who are selected to participate in the program will be provided with specialized mentoring, and they will meet on a weekly basis with their mentors. They will also get access to a gated Discord channel that will let them to communicate with the other members of their cohort, as well as the Coinbase engineers and program mentors.

The material taught at Base Bootcamp expands upon the Base Camp curriculum that was made accessible to the general public earlier this year. The students will work their way through this curriculum, and in addition, they will get supplemental materials and tasks that will be graded by the Base team. Participants will create a decentralized application (dapp) for the real world during the course’s last two weeks and then show it to the other members of their cohort.

It’s interesting to note that there are no costs associated with participating in the program. However, in order to participate in the scheme, individuals are asked to provide a one-ether deposit as a kind of assurance. After completion of the course, you will get this money back.

Because there is now a dearth of onchain developers, the introduction of Base Bootcamp is quite crucial. This project, according to Base, is not simply a learning adventure but a step toward becoming an important contributor to the new internet, highlighting the need for more developers to participate in the ecosystem of decentralization.

Exit mobile version