A Shocking Loss: The Story of NFT God

On January 14, 2023, the self-proclaimed NFT influencer known as “NFT God” took to Twitter, shedding light on a horrendous incident that devastated his digital empire. He described how he fell victim to a cyber attack that compromised his entire online livelihood, including hackings and losses that would make most investors weep into their crypto wallets.
In his own words, NFT God stated,

“Last night my entire digital livelihood was violated.”

How an Innocent Google Search Went Wrong

Narrating the tale with a twist of irony, NFT God shares that his quest for the open-source video streaming software, OBS, led him astray. Instead of visiting the official website, he mistakenly clicked on a sponsored advertisement, which turned out to be a sneaky trap filled with malware. He reflected,

“It wasn’t until hours later I realized malware was downloaded from the sponsored advertisement.”

The Consequences: A Digital Nightmare

Within hours, things started spiraling out of control. NFT God’s Twitter accounts were overrun with phishing tweets that left his followers confused and concerned. And just when he thought the damage couldn’t get worse, a close acquaintance delivered the dreaded news: his crypto wallet had been breached. He tweeted,

“Dude you WETH’d your ape?”

What He Lost

• 19 Ether (ETH): Valued at approximately $27,000 at the time of loss.
• A Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) NFT: Currently valued at 16 ETH ($25,000).
• Numerous other NFTs: Stolen and siphoned away.

Lessons Learned: Security Missteps and the Hot Wallet Dilemma

Dissecting the mishap, NFT God identified a critical error in his security setup. He had unintentionally created a hot wallet by entering his hardware wallet’s seed phrase online, leaving it vulnerable to hackers. He lamented, “I knew at that moment it was all gone. Everything. All my crypto and NFTs ripped from me.” Talk about a lesson learned the hard way!

A Bigger Issue: The Google Ads Dilemma

Sadly, NFT God’s experience is not an isolated incidence. A report from Cyble revealed an alarming trend of information-stealing malware circulating via Google Ads. In October, crypto mastermind Changpeng Zhao warned users about the rampant promotion of phishing sites through Google’s search results.
While Google claims to be deploying measures to combat these threats, users must remain vigilant.

What Can You Do to Stay Safe?

• Always verify the source: Before downloading software, cross-check it on credible websites.
• Avoid sponsored ads: Trust your instincts and stick to organic search results.
• Secure your wallets: Keep your seed phrases offline and utilize two-factor authentication wherever possible.

As NFT God’s unfortunate tale illustrates, cybersecurity is no laughing matter. Humor may be rampant in the crypto community, but this lesson serves as a stern reminder of the importance of security—after all, the only thing that should be falling is the price of gas, not your digital assets. Stay safe, friends!