Category: Crypto

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Crypto Games News

Fortnite Gamers Searching For “Cheat Codes” Exposed To Private Data And Bitcoin (BTC) Wallet Credentials Theft

Researchers at Malwarebytes Labs found a malicious file created to steal data and details of Bitcoin (BTC) wallets. The malware was hidden in supposed free downloadable versions of the new edition of the famous video game Fortnite, which recently launched its sixth season.

The creators of the malicious program focused on players tempted to explore pages that offer Fortnite tricks and cheats to download the game before its release, or to obtain special codes that give them advantages over other players.

According to Christopher Boyd from the Malwarebytes Labs, they examined a large number of alleged “free” Android versions of Fortnite’s sixth season. The research included a series of YouTube videos offering free “V-Bucks,” a token used to purchase additional content in the game’s store, as well as other advantages for gamers.

Some of the videos contaminated with malicious code packages, described as “fake tricks, wallhacks, and aimbots,” reached more than 120,000 hits before being blocked for violating YouTube’s spam policy.

Fortnite gamers exposed to private data theft, including their Bitcoin (BTC) wallets credentials

Once victims subscribe to one of these channels, they are invited to complete several steps, including responding to a survey, to get to the download page. Boyd noted that the look and feel of the site could be quite compelling to players. He also said that up to the time the report was published, the malicious file had been downloaded by 1,207 times.

When installed, the Trojan starts stealing necessary device information and other data such as Bitcoin (BTC) wallets credentials, Steam sessions, cookies, and browser session details. It then proceeds to send that information, via a POST command, to a file in the Russian Federation, as the report says.

Boyd reported that, in order to complete the scam, cybercriminals added a “readme” file to the malicious software, announcing to gamers that they can buy additional Fortnite tricks for $80 in Bitcoin (BTC).

Popular video games such as Fortnite tend to be an attractive platform for scammers and cybercriminals. A year ago a user was reported selling so-called “cheats” for Fortnite, which was a file infected with a hidden Bitcoin (BTC) mining malware.

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Crypto News

SBI Ripple Asia Launched MoneyTap App, A Payments Application, In Japan

It has been confirmed that the payment application developed by the SBI Ripple Asia consortium and approved by Japanese financial authorities, MoneyTap, will not work with cryptocurrencies. The system will carry out only payments with fiat currencies between the institutions of the Japanese Banking Consortium and their respective clients.

Ripple announced through its Twitter account that the MoneyTap application was already enabled on its website and can be downloaded to Android or iOS devices. The company also confirmed that the platform would be working exclusively to offer real-time settlements for institutional and bank payments between Sumishin Net Bank, Suruga Bank, and Resona Bank.

“The Japan Bank Consortium launched MoneyTap today, a Ripple-powered payments app to offer real-time settlement for domestic payments in Japan,” stated Ripple on Twitter.

SBI Ripple Asia’s MoneyTap app won’t use cryptocurrencies

In this sense, the distributed network developed by the banking consortium SBI Holdings and Ripple Asia would be designed so that the clients of the before-mentioned banks in Japan could make transfers in Yen or foreign currency in real time, without fees, at any time of the day and any day of the week. The latter is the most outstanding advantage of the solution offered by Ripple.

At present, bank transfer services are limited to weekdays, from 9 AM to 3 PM, usually. Using MoneyTap, people can make transfers at any time, just needing the phone number or email associated with the destination account.

The MoneyTap payments platform was approved by the Japanese government for legal tender last September, days after the SBI Ripple Asia consortium announced it.

Similarly, MoneyTap became the first banking system, developed in conjunction with a crypto-related company, to have been approved by the Japanese government and enabled its services throughout the territory of Japan. However, the project left out the use of Ripple’s official cryptocurrency, the XRP (XRP).

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Crypto News

Gemini Crypto Trading Platform Agreed With An Insurance Company For Covering The Cryptos In Its Custody

The Gemini crypto trading platform, owned by brothers Tyler and CameroWinklevossss, announced yesterday that it had succeeded in obtaining insurance coverage for the cryptocurrencies it holds in custody.

Yusuf Hussain, Director of Risk at Gemini, pointed out that the large number of hackers that attack crypto exchange platforms, which have resulted in substantial losses, is the main reason for the cautious attitude of the insurers regarding these crypto-related businesses. Hussain also refers to the poor standards, policies, and procedures that have characterized much of the crypto industry, as other reasons for the lack of confidence of insurers.

“As a result, many crypto trading platforms have been unable to obtain insurance or have rejected insurance proposals because of the high cost of policies set by the few insurers offering plans. However, we were able to convince insurers that Gemini is indeed a safe platform and custodian, where customers can buy, sell and store their digital assets in a regulated and secure manner,” stated Yusuf Hussain.

Gemini crypto trading platform agreed with an insurance company for covering the cryptocurrencies in its custody

This new move covers for Gemini’s cryptocurrencies in custody and complements an insurance policy on US Dollar deposits already offered by Gemini through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), as Hussain added.

Gemini also highlighted that it holds several insurances for an accumulated amount that is greater than the value of the cryptocurrencies in custody on the user’s behalf. However, unauthorized access to clients’ and platform’s accounts are not covered by the newly signed insurance plan, said Gemini in the user agreement, which also emphasizes that the only person responsible for maintaining the security of account access credentials is the customer.

The security incidents affecting crypto trading platforms represent one of the most notorious vulnerabilities in the crypto industry. Also, these businesses are mostly centralized, which contrasts with the philosophy of decentralization promoted by the majority of cryptocurrencies. Accordingly, the safest option to store cryptocurrencies remains a cold wallet.

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Crypto Games News

Blockchain Gaming: Ubisoft Leads The Blockchain Games Alliance to Implement Blockchain Technologies in The Industry

The Blockchain Games Alliance announced the affiliation of a total of 8 members to the project, with the aim of developing crypto and blockchain technologies in the video games industry. The French company Ubisoft is leading the Blockchain Games Alliance which also enjoys the presence of ConsenSys.

Ubisoft to lead the Blockchain Games Alliance in implementing blockchain technologies in the video games industry

The announcement was made at the Blockchain Games Summit that took place in the French city of Lyon during the last days of September. Ubisoft, together with ConsenSys and the startups Enjin, Fig, Alto, Ultra, EverdreamSoft, and Gimli have become the first members of this alliance, thus inaugurating the project at international level.

The project aims to develop a set of common standards and practices with a view to integrating crypto networks and blockchain technologies into the video games industry, thus accelerating innovation in this ecosystem. “We offer an open forum for all stakeholders to share knowledge and collaborate on research that fosters new ways of creating and playing games,” said the Blockchain Games Alliance.

“The Blockchain Game Alliance advocates a universal standard in the blockchain gaming space to create a more interoperable and transparent ecosystem that benefits stakeholders by promoting innovation and ensuring economic viability,” said Nicolas Gilot, Ultra startup CEO.

The renowned games developer, Ubisoft, is not new to blockchain gaming

Ubisoft becomes one of the most outstanding members of this blockchain gaming alliance due to its enormous history in the video games industry. Sagas such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Prince of Persia, among others, are some of its most famous products.

The firm has been working for several months now on the Ubisoft’s Strategic Innovation Laboratory to develop and implement crypto and blockchain technologies in its games, achieving this goal in the HashCraft game with the help of its blockchain department director, Anne Puck.

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Crypto News

BTCPay Server To Install Within Minutes Now, Thanks To Its New Interface

Nicolas Dorier, the creator of BTCPay Server, an open-source Bitcoin (BTC) payment processor server, announced on Tuesday the availability of a web interface for quick and easy installation of the client, with just a few clicks, which includes the configuration of a complete node of Bitcoin (BTC) and LND, a Lightning Network client.

Nicolas Dorier admits that, until now, installing BTCPay client was sluggish and complicated

Until now, BTCPay Server, which allows a business to receive payments in Bitcoin (BTC), was available on the Microsoft Azure platform, Microsoft’s cloud computing platform.

“Since I started using BTCPay in February 2018, assuming the role of a non-technical person, I found the installation process intimidating. I learn quickly, but the fact that a merchant had to use the terminal and a command line was not good user experience. I spent a good amount of time at Reddit trying to explain to merchants the concepts of privacy and resistance to censorship. The only thing I couldn’t discuss was that BTCPay was harder to install and took longer than other options,” admitted Nicolas Doriel.

BTCPay Server to install within minutes thanks to its new interface

The new installation process, Doriel says, only requires downloading the installation Wizard to install BTCPay. Then you need to create an account on LunaNode, which is the platform that hosts the payment processor and copy-paste the Application Programming Interface (API). The speed of BTCPay synchronization depends on the hosting plan chosen by the client. The cheapest plan, of only $8.80 per month, allows the synchronization to complete within four days, tops.

Dorier points out that, along with the installation of the BTCPay, a complete Bitcoin (BTC) node is configured automatically but in a way that is transparent to the user. Also included in the installation of BTCPay is the implementation of Lightning Network, although it is optional.

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