CoinGecko Confirms Data Breach; User Contact Information Exposed in Third-Party Email Service Hack
Summary:
CoinGecko, a cryptocurrency data aggregator, has confirmed a data breach at its third-party email management service GetResponse, compromising the contact details of roughly 1.9 million users. The perpetrator accessed a GetResponse employee’s account, introducing the breach. Although user accounts and passwords were not compromised, the intruder managed to send out more than 23,000 phishing emails. Experts encourage users to verify email legitimacy and use two-factor authentication on crypto platforms for safety. Reports highlight that private key and data leaks have become the major causes behind crypto-related hacks.
CoinGecko, a major cryptocurrency data collector, has confirmed that its third-party email management service GetResponse experienced a security breach. The announcement was made after recent reports indicated a rise in airdrop cons related to cryptocurrency. The GetResponse data breach, which occurred on 5th June, resulted in hackers gaining access to contact details of approximately 1.9 million CoinGecko users, as acknowledged by CoinGecko in their announcement on 7th June. They stated that an intruder had accessed a GetResponse employee’s account, leading to the breach. The data compromise included user names, email addresses, IP addresses, locations of email openings, and other metadata such as their registration dates and subscription plans.
CoinGecko assured its users that their main accounts and passwords have not being compromised. Despite CoinGecko's main email domain remaining intact, the culprit was able to send out over 23,723 phishing emails. Hackers use such emails to gain access to sensitive user data, like the private keys to cryptocurrency wallets. A noted cybersecurity expert, Hakan Unal stresses on verifying the legitimacy of the emails and urges users to enable two-factor authentication on cryptocurrency platforms.
Reports indicate that leaked private keys and personal data are among the main reasons for crypto hacks. A 2024 HackHub report by Merkle Science states that private key leaks resulted in 55% of the total digital assets that were hacked in 2023. As cybercriminals are increasingly targeting easy access points in the crypto world, protection measures have to be duly implemented.
Published At
6/7/2024 3:00:00 PM
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