In a recent security breach, Vitalik Buterin’s X (formerly Twitter) account was reportedly compromised, leading to significant losses exceeding $691,000 for users who fell victim to a malicious link, according to blockchain expert ZachXBT.
The incident unfolded on September 9 when Dmitry Buterin, Vitalik’s father, alerted followers on X that his son’s account had been breached. He urged users to disregard a particular post, which has since been removed.
The fraudulent post celebrated the introduction of “Proto-Danksharding” to the Ethereum network and lured users with the promise of a free commemorative NFT. Unsuspecting users who clicked on the link were tricked into connecting their wallets, resulting in the theft of their digital assets.
Notably, Ethereum developer Bok Khoo, known as Bokky Poobah on X, revealed that his CryptoPunk NFTs were among the assets lost in the hack. CryptoPunk NFTs currently have a floor price of 46.99 Ether, equivalent to approximately $76,837.
ZachXBT, with a substantial following of 438,200 users, kept its audience informed about the hacker’s actions. He disclosed that the most valuable stolen NFT was CryptoPunk #3983, valued at 153.62 ETH or about $250,543.
One X user, Satoshi 767, speculated that Buterin might have overlooked security measures for his X account. He suggested that Buterin should acknowledge any lapses in operational security and reimburse the affected individuals. Satoshi 767 proposed several theories about the breach, including the possibility of an internal job at X, a direct physical threat to Buterin, or, more likely, a SIM swap attack.
However, ZachXBT countered these theories by highlighting Vitalik Buterin’s high profile and the fact that he is an attractive target for various hacking methods. He emphasized that the nature of the breach remains uncertain and suggested that an insider might have been bribed or exploited access to an administrative panel.
The security breach serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with cryptocurrency and NFTs and underscores the importance of robust security practices in the crypto space. It also highlights the need for vigilance among prominent figures in the industry who may be targeted by malicious actors.
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