• Advertise
  • Submit a Press Release
NewsBTC
Bitcoin & cryptocurrency news
Crypto.com Logo
  • Home
  • News
    • Bitcoin
    • Ethereum
    • Cardano
    • Dogecoin
    • Ripple
    • DeFi
    • NFT
    • Sponsored
    • Press Releases
  • Analysis
    • Bitcoin (BTC)
    • Ethereum (ETH)
    • Cardano (ADA)
    • Chainlink (LINK)
    • Litecoin (LTC)
    • Tezos (XTZ)
    • Zcash (ZEC)
    • EOS
    • YearnFinance (YFI)
  • Trading Course
  • Directory
    • Crypto Businesses
    • Bitcoin Brokers
    • Casinos
    • Sportsbooks
  • Events
  • Play GamesTry
  • Play Casino GamesTry
No Result
View All Result
Breaking News: Dogecoin Surges 6% After Elon Musk Unveils Crypto Payment Master Plan
  • Home
  • News
    • Bitcoin
    • Ethereum
    • Cardano
    • Dogecoin
    • Ripple
    • DeFi
    • NFT
    • Sponsored
    • Press Releases
  • Analysis
    • Bitcoin (BTC)
    • Ethereum (ETH)
    • Cardano (ADA)
    • Chainlink (LINK)
    • Litecoin (LTC)
    • Tezos (XTZ)
    • Zcash (ZEC)
    • EOS
    • YearnFinance (YFI)
  • Trading Course
  • Directory
    • Crypto Businesses
    • Bitcoin Brokers
    • Casinos
    • Sportsbooks
  • Events
  • Play GamesTry
  • Play Casino GamesTry
No Result
View All Result
NewsBTC
No Result
View All Result
Breaking News: Dogecoin Surges 6% After Elon Musk Unveils Crypto Payment Master Plan

Google Security Expert: Crypto is Like Catnip for Cyber Criminals

Tony Spilotro by Tony Spilotro
4 years ago
in Cryptocurrency news
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Advertisement

In response to increasing security concerns around SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) and the prominence of SIM-swapping schemes targeting crypto investors, Google last year released the Titan Security Key. The Titan Security Key enables advanced 2FA without the need to send a text message that could be intercepted by cyber criminals.

Google’s Head of Account Security Mark Risher, who helped develop the Titan Security Key, believes that crypto is like “catnip” for cyber criminals, and explains why the emerging asset class has become such a “hot target.”

Crypto Is a “Hot Target” For Cyber Criminals, Says Google Head of Security

2018 smashed all previous records for crypto-related thefts. While the bulk of the stolen cryptocurrencies are attributed to some prominent cryptocurrency exchange hacks, the rest of the stolen crypto resulted from phishing schemes, crypto giveaways scams, and a new issue involving attackers gaining access to a user’s mobile phone through SIM-card swapping.

Don't wait! Jump on this Crypto Deal and get a 150% Welcome Bonus plus 100 Free Spins on your deposit today!
No Deposit 40 FREE SPINS at Wild.io on SIGN UP. Wheel of fortune, daily bonuses, 10 BTC in prizes monthly! Start Playing Now!

One high-profile case involving early Bitcoin investor Michael Terpin filing a lawsuit against telecom company AT&T for their gross negligence that led to $224 million in crypto being stolen from Terpin. Cyber criminals impersonated Terpin to gain access to a SIM-card tied to his phone number, which was then used to send a text-message containing sensitive account information that led to the criminals gaining access to Terpin’s crypto wallets.

Related Reading | Pro League of Legends Gamer Robbed of $200K in Crypto in Sim-Hack

Terpin’s example proves that new methods – such as Google’s Authenticator App, Authy, or Google’s new Titan Security Key – are necessary to fight the growing problem.

BitStarz Player Lands $2,459,124 Record Win! Could you be next big winner?

But why target crypto investors? Google’s Head of Account Security Mark Risher, whose primary focus is around spam, phishing, and account security, says that “the instantaneous nature of it, the very, very low transaction fees, the frictionless nature of money moving around,” and “the pseudonymity” are key reasons that cyber criminals are targeting crypto investors in a big way.

“Cryptocurrency is like catnip for these attackers,” Risher added. He continued, explaining that cryptocurrency’s notorious price volatility could lead to its value doubling overnight, making investors in the new financial technology a “very hot target.”

How Can Crypto Users Protect Themselves From SIM-Swapping?

It has become increasingly clear that SMS-based 2FA solutions that protect most accounts are ineffective against preventing all attacks. And while as long as there is potential for human error, and no solutions will ever be 100% effective, cryptocurrency investors can take some key steps to protect themselves.

For one, never use SMS-based 2FA for securing cryptocurrency wallets or exchange accounts, or anything that has access to private keys or assets. Instead, use Google’s Authenticator app or Authy, which refreshes 2FA codes that can only be viewed in-app at regular intervals. Be sure to make backups of all of the QR codes to the accounts you have synced with Google Authenticator or there is risk of being permanently locked out of your own accounts.

Related Reading | Silicon Valley Execs Targeted in ‘SIM Swap’ Hacking, $1 Million in Crypto Stolen

Another commonly overlooked but highly recommended tip is to never publicly, or even privately, disclose your crypto holdings or that you are holding cryptocurrencies at all. Doing so could make you a target.

Finally, one could consider Google’s Titan Security Key. Risher says that having a Titan Key “physically present makes SMS a non-threat.”

“There’s no code that sends over the airwaves, nothing is sent to the telcos,” he added. “If your phone number has changed, we won’t even know as part of this flow, and if someone else has grabbed your phone number, they won’t have any higher credibility than a complete stranger.”

Tags: 2faAT&TcryptogoogleMichael Terpinphishingsecuritysim swapping
Tweet123Share196ShareSend
Win up to $1,000,000 in One Spin at CryptoSlots
Tony Spilotro

Tony Spilotro

I'm Tony Spilotro. Behind the pseudonym, I'm a global remote work leader with a decade of award-winning content experience and excellence. Here, I explore my newfound passions pertaining to privacy, finance, economics, politics, cryptography, property rights, and other libertarian-esque views. I am a Bitcoin evangelist, maximalist, and educator whenever I can be, helping to spread its message of freedom from government control, monetary policy mismanagement, and passing the buck - literally – to future generations. My journey from a curious retail crypto investor to a serious Bitcoin advocate, trader, and technical analyst is an unusual one, but life-changing nonetheless and has become less about money and more about a long-overdue revolution. While a firm believer in the laws governing math and science, I am profoundly fascinated by the impact of astrology and astronomy including moon and solar cycles and planetary alignment and their ability to influence and potentially predict markets. It hasn't yet clicked for me as to how to put anything to use, but I consider it my current rabbit hole I can't yet dig out of. My perspective of growing up alongside the internet, the dot com era, the Great Recession, and roots in video games collecting coins and rare items caused Bitcoin to immediately make sense to me. Through all of these lenses, I seek to produce content that is educational and entertaining, and I thank you sincerely for taking the time to read what I have to say. Please follow me on Twitter at @tonyspilotroBTC and feel free to drop me a line if you would like to work together.

Related Posts

DeFi is not dead

‘No, DeFi Is Not Dead,’ Says Ex-Founder Of Yield Finance

2 hours ago
Nostr Social Media

Nostr Decentralized Social Network Now On Apple and Google Stores

3 hours ago
Bitcoin BTC

Time To Sell Bitcoin And Crypto? ‘Big Short’ Michael Burry Tweets ‘Sell’

4 hours ago
Litecoin

Litecoin Basks In Green As LTC Inches Closer To $100 Mark

7 hours ago
BlackRock Silvergate

Blackrock Increases Stake In Silvergate To 7.2%

10 hours ago
DekaBank Partership Metaco

German Bank Managing Over $428 Billion In Assets To Offer Bitcoin and Crypto Services

11 hours ago

Premium Partners

Top Casinos

BitStarz

BitStarz

Review · Visit
Punt Casino

Punt Casino

Review · Visit
Metaspins

Metaspins

Review · Visit
Trust Dice

Trust Dice

Review · Visit
CryptoSlots

CryptoSlots

Review · Visit
Coinplay

Coinplay

Review · Visit
mBit

mBit

Review · Visit
Vave

Vave

Review · Visit

Sportsbooks

1xBit

1xBit

Review · Visit
Coinplay

Coinplay

Review · Visit

Big Eyes Coin Hits £20 million in Presale: Feline Friendly Crypto Dwarfs Competition

February 1, 2023

B2Broker Unveils Integrates Match-Trader into Its White Label Liquidity Offering

February 1, 2023

Optimism (OP) reaches all-time high, Coinbase fined 3.3 million euros by Dutch central bank and could Snowfall Protocol (SNW) launch earlier than the official date as investors pile in to buy up remaining supplies

February 1, 2023

Spike in Transactions causes Polygon (MATIC) price to Surge, Ethereum (ETH) loses 2.94%, and Snowfall Protocol (SNW) sells more than 90% of their phase 3 supply

February 1, 2023

Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Proponent Roger Ver Sued, Litecoin (LTC) Surpasses Ethereum’s Number Of Unique Addresses, And Snowfall Protocol (SNW) Shines 3700% Brighter

February 1, 2023

About Us

NewsBTC is a cryptocurrency news service that covers bitcoin news today, technical analysis & forecasts for bitcoin price and other altcoins. Here at NewsBTC, we are dedicated to enlightening everyone about bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

We cover BTC news related to bitcoin exchanges, bitcoin mining and price forecasts for various cryptocurrencies.

Links

Crypto Prices from Nomics

Cryptocurrency news

  • Bitcoin
  • Ethereum
  • Ripple
  • Chainlink
  • Cardano
  • EOS
  • Tezos

Technical Analysis

  • Bitcoin (BTC)
  • Ethereum (ETH)
  • Ripple (XRP)
  • Chainlink (LINK)
  • Cardano (ADA)
  • Tezos (XTZ)

Company

  • Advertising
  • Comments Policy
  • Privacy Center
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Contact

© 2022 NewsBTC. All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • News
    • Bitcoin
    • Ethereum
    • Cardano
    • Dogecoin
    • Ripple
    • DeFi
    • NFT
    • Sponsored
    • Press Releases
  • Analysis
    • Bitcoin (BTC)
    • Ethereum (ETH)
    • Cardano (ADA)
    • Chainlink (LINK)
    • Litecoin (LTC)
    • Tezos (XTZ)
    • Zcash (ZEC)
    • EOS
    • YearnFinance (YFI)
  • Trading Course
  • Directory
    • Crypto Businesses
    • Bitcoin Brokers
    • Casinos
    • Sportsbooks
  • Events
  • Play Games
  • Play Casino Games

© 2022 NewsBTC. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy Center or Cookie Policy.