Google Ads-delivered malware drains crypto influencer “NFT God” entire crypto wallet

An NFT influencer known on Twitter as “NFT God” claims to have lost “a life-changing amount” of his net worth in nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and crypto after accidentally downloading malicious software found in a Google Ad search result.

In a series of tweets on January 14, “NFT God” described how his “entire digital livelihood” came under attack including a compromise of his crypto wallet and multiple online accounts, Cointelegraph reported.

“Last night my entire digital livelihood was violated. Every account connected to me both personally and professionally was hacked and used to hurt others. Less importantly, I lost a life-changing amount of my net worth,” NFT God, also known as “Alex” said.

Last night my entire digital livelihood was violated.

Every account connected to me both personally and professionally was hacked and used to hurt others.

Less importantly, I lost a life changing amount of my net worth

— Alex Finn (@AlexFinnX) January 15, 2023

Alex said he had used Google’s search engine to download OBS, an open-source video streaming software. But instead of clicking on the official website, he clicked on the sponsored advertisement that he thought was the same thing.

But Alex didn’t know his wallet has been emptied until several hours later when a series of phishing tweets were posted by attackers on two Twitter accounts that Alex operates. He later realized he had downloaded malware from the sponsored advertisement in addition to the software he wanted.

Following a message from a contact, he noticed his crypto wallet was also compromised with Alex losing $27,000 in cryptos and NFTs. A day later, the bad actors breached his Substack account and sent phishing emails to his 16,000 subscribers.

“Every channel I have with my community, friends, and family was compromised over the last 24 hours. My Twitter, Substack, Gmail, Discord, and wallets were all invaded and taken over by bad actors. Significantly less important than all of that I lost all of my digital assets”

Every channel I have with my community, friends, and family was compromised over the last 24 hours

My Twitter, Substack, Gmail, Discord, and wallets were all invaded and taken over by bad actors

Significantly less important than all of that I lost all of my digital assets

— Alex Finn (@AlexFinnX) January 15, 2023

According to blockchain data, “at least 19 Ether ETH tickers down $1,561 worth nearly $27,000 at the time, a Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) NFT with a current floor price of 16 ETH ($25,000), and multiple other NFTs were siphoned from Alex’s wallet,” Telegraph said.

“The hackers sent 2 emails to my 16,000 closest fans with hacked links. Trust I’ve worked over a year to build was gone. Losing a chunk of my net worth is nothing compared to losing the trust of my community,” Alex added.

Every channel I have with my community, friends, and family was compromised over the last 24 hours

My Twitter, Substack, Gmail, Discord, and wallets were all invaded and taken over by bad actors

Significantly less important than all of that I lost all of my digital assets

— Alex Finn (@AlexFinnX) January 15, 2023

The bad actors moved most of the ETH through multiple wallets before sending it to the decentralized exchange (DEX) FixedFloat, where it was swapped for unknown cryptocurrencies.

Alex added that his Twitter, Substack, Gmail, Discord, and wallets were all invaded and taken over by bad actors.