Fintech e cryptocurrencies they are an attractive universe for more or less expert investors, with increasingly higher transaction volumes.
All this, as expected, has attracted the unwanted attention of many cybercriminals. Precisely in this context he decided to investigate CoinKickOfftrying to shed light on the relationship between cryptocurrencies and online searches.
In this regard, a team of researchers has analyzed over 28,000 URLs, trying to find a similar modus operandi for cybercriminals operating in this sector. The data obtained provided an overview that was as clear as it was worrying.
In this context, the most “dangerous” niche seems to be the altcoin. These, in fact, represent a high-risk investment, capable of enticing the most reckless investors. Most of those who work in the sector do not have adequate experience and, in this context, fraud is just around the corner.
When it comes to dangerous URLs in the fintech sector, those involving altcoins and related projects are the most common. Of course, the dangers for investors don’t end there.
Altcoins and more: all the risks that emerge from online research on cryptocurrencies
According to CoinKickoff, when it comes to online searches, Stellar represents one of the most at-risk cryptocurrencies.
Designed for fast and low-cost cross-border transactions, analyzing SERPs and sites present, the numbers are merciless. We are talking about 38% (therefore almost four out of ten sites), connected in some way to malware or ransomware. Other cryptocurrencies at risk are Ghost (36%), Chronos (32%), Tron (30%) e The Graph (29%).
Not least are the research related to crypto walletswhere platforms are often proposed which to define as having dubious origin is an understatement.
In this sense, to prevent problems of any kind, it is best to rely on more established exchanges in the sector, such as Coinbase e Krakenalways making sure you are on the “right site” and not on a copy.
Even NFTs at risk
Still in the context of research, the NFT represent a danger. The lack of regulation and an anonymous ecosystem, in fact, are fertile ground for cybercriminals.
In this wild land, the bad guys move with ease: we talk about the 51,92% of links proposed in SERPs that are dangerous or in any case lead to illicit platforms. In fact, research regarding NFTs turns out to be real “minefields”.