Vitalik Buterin Reveals How His Twitter Account Was Hacked
After recovering his Twitter account, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin disclosed that the hack was the result of a sim swap attack. The hacker managed to steal nearly $700,000 from users who fell for Vitalik’s compromised account. The hacker lured users with a link on the profile page, inviting them to mint exclusive NFTs. When users connected their wallets, funds were stolen from their accounts.
Protect Yourself: Remove Your Phone Number
Vitalik shared advice on Warpcast to help users avoid falling victim to similar hacks. He emphasized that a phone number alone is enough to reset a Twitter account, even without using it for 2-factor authentication (2FA). He urged users to completely remove their phone numbers from Twitter’s security settings. While 2FA is considered a strong security measure, eliminating the phone number eliminates the risk of sim swap attacks.
T-Mobile’s Troubles with Sim Swaps
T-Mobile has faced numerous issues with sim swap attacks, which allow hackers to gain control of victims’ phones and access their social media, bank accounts, and crypto wallets. These attacks have resulted in millions of dollars being stolen from T-Mobile customers. The telecoms giant has faced legal action from affected customers.
Hot Take: Protect Your Crypto Accounts from Sim Swap Attacks
Sim swap attacks pose a significant threat to the security of your crypto accounts. Vitalik Buterin’s recent hack serves as a reminder to take necessary precautions. To protect yourself, follow Vitalik’s advice and remove your phone number from your social media and crypto accounts. While 2FA is essential, relying solely on a phone number for account recovery can make you vulnerable to sim swap attacks. Stay vigilant and regularly review your security settings to ensure the utmost protection for your valuable assets.