The Rise of Phishing in Gaming
In recent times, online phishing has evolved into a serious threat, especially for gamers. A notorious phishing website is masquerading as a Pokémon-themed nonfungible token (NFT) card game, attracting unsuspecting fans hungry for the latest collectibles. But instead of earning digital cards, users are unwittingly installing malware on their devices. And let’s be honest, that’s not the level-up any gamer is looking for!
How the Scam Works
This phishing playground claims to not only offer a card game but also an entire NFT marketplace for trading tokens. However, those clicking on the alluring “Play on PC” link end up downloading something much more sinister—a remote access tool. This delightful gift, known as NetSupport Manager, effectively hands the keys to the castle over to hackers.
- Control your mouse and keyboard.
- Access files and browsing history.
- Install even more malware to ruin your digital life.
Stay Safe in the Digital Jungle
The South Korean cybersecurity firm AhnLab issued a warning about this scam. Their advice? Stick to official sources for downloads and ignore overly tempting links in emails. Just like mom always said, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
The Metaverse is Calling
Switching gears, let’s talk music. Who knew that the Oscar-winning composer of “Jai Ho,” A.R. Rahman, would jump into the metaverse fray? Rahman has teased his upcoming platform, Katraar, which aims to empower artists using decentralized technologies.
“Right now we are working with the HBAR Foundation to do many cool things, one is bringing a lot of NFTs.”
In his keen pursuit of a more artist-friendly universe, Rahman has not only embraced NFTs but hinted at a secret project involving virtual beings. Will they be dancing to his hits? We shall see!
NFT Marketplace on the Mend
Despite the ominous malware news, it’s not all doom and gloom in the NFT world. The first week of 2023 saw a whopping 26% spike in NFT sales, totaling over $211 million. Clearly, the post-holiday slump has worn off faster than my resolve to hit the gym after New Year’s! Popular Ethereum-native collections like the Bored Ape Yacht Club reign supreme, while the Mutant Apes and Azuki also experienced significant sales increases. However, let’s not confuse market recovery with good taste!
Film Meets NFTs: A Unique Experiment
The producers of “The Rideshare Killer,” a 2022 film, made waves by releasing nearly 120,000 NFTs representing every single frame from their movie. While some might see it as innovative, others might call it desperate, given that its IMDb rating is a mere 4/10.
The film could potentially be a game-changer for independent artists, providing them with a new revenue source—if they can get past the critics, that is!
Other Nifty News
In other quirky NFT tales, YouTuber Logan Paul found himself in a twist, backtracking on his threat to sue Coffeezilla for defamation. Meanwhile, NFT marketplace SuperRare is seemingly navigating choppy waters, laying off a hefty percentage of its staff after over-hiring during the crypto boom. The cold winds of ‘crypto winter’ are hitting hard!
