How hackers are targeting X verification accounts to trick you

Michael Shellenberger responds after testifying before Congress over censorship and social media.
If you use X, formerly known as Twitter, you might’ve seen gray or gold-verified accounts promoting cryptocurrencies. 
They often pose as actual cryptocurrencies. While you would think these cryptocurrencies are legitimate — in reality, it’s the work of hackers who hijack X accounts.
These hackers target politicians, companies and other official accounts that you trust in order to trick you into buying into their crypto scam.
Some act as middlemen, selling accounts to malicious actors.
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Example of X verified accounts with gray and gold check marks (X Corp.)
Cybersecurity experts MalwareHunterTeam found accounts belonging to a Canadian senator, a Brazilian politician and a nonprofit all being used to push cryptocurrencies. According to their reports, hackers used the Canadian politician’s account to pose as a legitimate cryptocurrency project, whose actual account isn’t even verified.
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That attack is two-fold. Not only are hackers trying to trick X users into thinking that they’re an actual cryptocurrency project, they also use that gold or gray check mark to make you think they are trustworthy.
Cybersecurity firm Mandiant also had its X profile taken over. Hackers changed the profile to impersonate the Phantom crypto wallet. They then promised free tokens to users who clicked a link.
Retweet by a hacker (MalwareHunter Team)
The screenshot above shows how the attacker used the official Phantom account to retweet posts that warned users to “never rush into clicking links.” This was probably a tactic to make their future crypto scam posts look more credible.​
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However, a BleepingComputer report found that users who clicked on the link would get redirected to download the real Phantom cryptocurrency wallet. That’s when hackers would attack — draining unsuspecting users’ crypto wallets.
Phantom X account (MalwareHunter Team)
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Even though these hackers are doing everything they can to trick you into giving them your money, you can take these 10 steps to protect yourself.
The old adage is usually right. Most hackers hope you don’t see through their schemes and think that you’re getting an incredible deal. However, you have to ask yourself: Why would a company just give out free cryptocurrency? Wouldn’t there be a catch? What’s in it for the company?
Before investing in cryptocurrency, you should make sure you have thoroughly looked into it. Make sure you know what you’re investing in, and you’ve spent ample time researching it. Just clicking on a social media post and trusting it usually isn’t a great idea and can make you a target for hackers.
Use a strong password that you don’t reuse on other websites. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. It will help you to create unique and difficult-to-crack passwords that a hacker could never guess. Second, it also keeps track of all your passwords in one place and fills passwords in for you when you’re logging into an account so that you never have to remember them yourself. The fewer passwords you remember, the less likely you will be to reuse them for your accounts.
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your X account. When you log in, you need to enter both a password and a verification code or use a security key. This way, only you can access your account. To enroll, you need to have a verified email address linked to your account. X uses your email address to communicate with you and keep your account secure.
Once you turn on this feature, you need two things to log in to your account: your password and a secondary verification method. You can choose from a code, an app confirmation, or a physical security key.
Having an up-to-date email address attached to your account is a great way to improve your account security. Also, adding a phone number to your account is a great step to keep your account secure. With a phone number on your account, you’ll be able to enroll in security features like login verification. It will also allow for faster account recovery. If you ever lose access to your account, having a phone number attached can make it easier for you to get back into your X account.
Be cautious of suspicious links, and always make sure you’re on twitter.com before you enter your login information.
Never give your username and password out to third parties, especially those promising to get you followers, make you money, or verify you.
Make sure your computer software, including your browser, is up to date with the most recent upgrades and antivirus software.
The best way to protect yourself from having your data breached is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. Having good antivirus software actively running on your devices will alert you of any malware in your system, warn you against clicking on any malicious links in phishing emails, and ultimately protect you from being hacked. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices.
If you really think your X account has been hacked, then you should check to see if your account has been compromised. You can do this by visiting the Security and Login section of your account settings and reviewing the devices and locations where you have logged in. If you see any suspicious activity, such as logins from unknown devices or locations, you should immediately change your password and enable two-factor authentication. You should also report any unauthorized access to X.
X login page (X Corp.)
If you suspect you’re a victim of a social media scammer, you need to take urgent action immediately. Here are some immediate steps to take.
Immediately change your password to lock potential hackers out. If you’re locked out of your account, contact X’s support immediately to recover it.
Let your friends and family know so that they’re aware. That way, hackers won’t dupe them with messages or requests coming from your compromised account.
Keep an eye on your active sessions, messages sent, and any changes made to your account. You should try to report and reverse any unfamiliar activity.
If you believe your personal information, such as financial data or other sensitive details, has been compromised, consider reaching out to cybersecurity professionals or services. They can guide you on further recovery and protection steps.
If you want a service that will walk you through every step of the reporting and recovery process, one of the best things you can do to protect yourself from this type of fraud is to subscribe to an identity theft service.
Theft protection companies can monitor personal information like your home title, Social Security number, phone number, and email address. They can also alert you if it is on sale on the dark web or if someone is using it to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.
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These hackers are trying to take advantage of your trust and hope you let your guard down. That’s why it’s so important to be vigilant. While they are trying to fool you with official-looking accounts, try to verify them using the person or organization’s website or other social media accounts. While X’s gray and gold verification marks are usually legitimate, they’re not 100% foolproof.
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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.