Decentralized Social Network Friend.tech Targeted by Hackers
Users of the decentralized social network Friend.tech have recently become victims of multiple hacker attacks. Jason Janowitz, founder of Blockworks, a crypto news outlet, shared his experience in a tweet where he revealed that someone tried to hijack his Friend.tech account. The attack involved a message pretending to be from Friend.tech’s automated assistance, claiming that the associated phone number was being changed.
“A number change has been requested for this account. Reply with YES to approve this change, or NO to decline. If we do not receive a response within 2 hours, the change will proceed as requested.”
After responding with “no,” the hackers attempted to gain access to Janowitz’s account by requesting a two-factor authentication code. This incident highlights the flawed logic behind Friend.tech’s confirmation process via text message. Although users should remain cautious and enable extra login protections, scammers have already stolen over $385,000 in Ether from Friend.tech users through SIM-swapping attacks.
New Account Security Features Introduced
In response to these incidents, Friend.tech has announced new security features to help users protect their accounts. These include the ability to add and remove login methods. Previously, some users were locked out of their accounts when their phone numbers were swapped due to issues with the platform’s 2FA passcode feature.
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT reported several SIM-swap attacks targeting Friend.tech users on October 4. Despite enabling two-factor authentication, victims had their accounts compromised. Experts advise all Friend.tech users to stay vigilant, enable additional login protections, and avoid trusting unsolicited requests for verification codes.
Hot Take: Safeguarding Your Decentralized Social Network Accounts
As the popularity of decentralized social networks grows, so does the risk of hacker attacks. Friend.tech users have recently fallen victim to various scams, including SIM-swapping attacks. It’s crucial to be proactive in protecting your account. Ensure you enable extra login protections, such as two-factor authentication, and regularly review and update your security settings.
Additionally, be cautious of unsolicited messages or requests for verification codes. Hackers often use social engineering techniques to trick users into compromising their accounts. Stay informed about the latest security features and updates provided by the platform and report any suspicious activity immediately.