How Vitalik Buterin’s X Profile Was Hacked Through a SIM Swap
Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, recently revealed that his T-mobile account was compromised, leading to his X profile being hacked. In a post on the decentralized social media app Farcaster, Buterin explained that the hacker used a SIM swap, which involves socially engineering T-mobile to take control of his phone number. He also learned that a phone number alone is enough to reset the password of an X account, even without using two-factor authentication.
Buterin admitted that he had previously seen advice warning against using phone numbers for authentication, but he didn’t realize the extent of the vulnerability. He suspects that he added his number when signing up for Twitter Blue, the X Premium subscription. However, he expressed relief that on Farcaster, his account recovery can be controlled by an ethereum address.
Vitalik Buterin’s X Profile Hacked with Malicious Tweet
News of Vitalik Buterin’s hacked X profile emerged after scammers posted a malicious tweet offering free non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Suspecting a SIM swap attack, many crypto users in the community raised concerns. In response to the incident, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao urged everyone to use hardware two-factor authentication (2FA) on all cryptocurrency platforms. He emphasized the need for greater security measures, having experienced attempted brute-force attacks on his own account in the past.
Hot Take: Importance of Two-Factor Authentication in Crypto
The hacking incident involving Vitalik Buterin’s X profile serves as a reminder of the importance of robust security measures, particularly two-factor authentication. It highlights the vulnerability of using phone numbers for authentication, as they can be exploited through methods like SIM swapping. To enhance security, it is crucial for crypto users to implement hardware 2FA, such as using Yubikey, across all platforms. This incident emphasizes the need for continuous vigilance and proactive measures to safeguard personal information and digital assets in the crypto space.
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