North Korean Hackers Use Fake NFT Game to Steal Crypto

The game, named DeTankZone or DeTankWar, was designed to trick users into downloading malware and steal their cryptocurrency.

The hackers used a security hole in Google Chrome to install spyware that stole users’ wallet credentials.

The Fake Game Trap

The Lazarus Group didn’t cut corners with this scam. They created a fully playable, multiplayer online battle game where players could use non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as tanks in a global competition.

The game was promoted on social media platforms like LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter). On the surface, it looked just like a fun blockchain game where you could “play-to-earn” rewards. But underneath, it was a trap waiting to be sprung.

Here’s where the trouble began. The hackers used a “zero-day” vulnerability in Google Chrome. A zero-day vulnerability is a flaw that hasn’t been discovered by the software maker, so there’s no immediate fix. In this case, the flaw allowed the hackers to infect users’ devices just by visiting the game’s website—no download needed! They used a type of malware called Manuscrypt, which helped them steal information like wallet passwords.

Even though Microsoft Security first noticed the scam back in February 2024, the hackers removed the exploit before cybersecurity experts could fully analyze it. Still, Kaspersky Labs noticed more suspicious activity in May, and they alerted Google. The company quickly got to work and patched up the security hole in just 12 days.

How the Hackers Pulled It Off

The Lazarus Group modeled their fake game after an existing game called DeFiTankLand. By creating a look-alike game, they managed to fool people into trusting it. Even worse, their game didn’t just target people who downloaded it—it infected users just by visiting the website.

The Lazarus Group used something called a “type confusion bug” in Chrome’s JavaScript engine, known as V8. Hackers found the seventh zero-day vulnerability in Chrome in 2024 alone. This clearly shows that hackers can catch even big companies like Google off guard.

Disclaimer

The information discussed by Altcoin Buzz is not financial advice. This is for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes only. Any information or strategies are thoughts and opinions relevant to the accepted risk tolerance levels of the writer/reviewers and their risk tolerance may be different than yours. We are not responsible for any losses you may incur due to any investments directly or indirectly related to the information provided. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk investments so please do your due diligence. Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.

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