The cryptocurrency exchange Kraken stated that participants at cryptocurrency conferences exhibited poor "basic situational awareness" and security measures, making them vulnerable to malicious actors hidden within the crowd.
Kraken's security team noted a "disturbing trend" where, at events, some well-known cryptocurrency protocol owners left their unlocked laptops and phones unattended on tables—"wallet notifications popping up in real-time," said Kraken's security chief Nick Percoco in a blog post on June 5.
"If you are in the cryptocurrency industry, your digital devices are not just phones or laptops. They are a vault for you, your crypto assets, and the overall operations of your company," he said. "Always keep your devices close and lock them when not in use."
Percoco emphasized that basic security measures are particularly important for conference participants, as scammers also attend cryptocurrency events and can easily fabricate a cover story to register under false identities, appearing to belong to the community.
"The core of cryptocurrency is being your own bank. If you do not prioritize personal safety and operational security, it is difficult to realize the promise of financial freedom," Percoco added.
One strategy used by scammers at conferences is "juice jacking," which involves installing malware, stealing data, or exploiting public networks through malicious USB charging stations, Percoco stated.
He also added that scammers can easily spoof or compromise WiFi networks.
"The cryptocurrency events are filled with highly skilled individuals, including those with hacking abilities. As long as there is one malicious actor, they can exploit unprotected connections," he said.
QR codes may also pose risks, although Percoco mentioned he has not seen any reports of actual cases, malicious actors could replace legitimate QR code stickers on marketing materials with fake ones, potentially leading to wallet theft.
"A safer approach is to use a temporary wallet specifically for conference activities, with limited funds. This way, even if something goes wrong, your main assets remain protected," he said.
Kraken's security team also noted that some attendees openly discussed their cryptocurrency gains and were not cautious enough about exposing personal information.
"One of our team members walked out of their hotel room one night, a few miles from the conference venue, and encountered several attendees discussing high-value trades while wearing conference lanyards with their names and companies," Percoco wrote.
"Even if you think no one is listening, it is very likely that someone is. Stay cautious to protect yourself and those around you," he said.
This year, there has been a rising number of kidnapping and extortion attempts targeting members of the cryptocurrency community and their families.
Since the co-founder of self-custody company Casa, cryptopunk Jameson Lopp, created a list on GitHub documenting dozens of offline cryptocurrency robbery incidents worldwide, there have been 29 face-to-face cryptocurrency-related thefts so far this year.
Chainalysis CEO Jonathan Levin stated last month that the belief that cryptocurrency is an untraceable asset may encourage criminals to attempt bold kidnappings and thefts.
Related: The U.S. seeks to seize $7.7 million in cryptocurrency related to North Korean IT worker money laundering schemes.
Original article: “Kraken: Cryptocurrency Conference Attendees Lack ‘Basic Situational Awareness’”
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