Bitcoin Forum

I have seen an article that talks about the death of the legendary NBA player Kobe Bryant which has been used for scamming people.

They called it as crytojacking worm. As expcted, scammers uses this opportunity to take advantage for scamming people. The growing trend has been found within images of various celebrities in recent months, often in the form of wallpapers that can be downloaded to a person’s desktop or smartphone.
Cryptojacking software was recently discovered within high-resolution images of musician Taylor Swift ad the actress Scarlett Johansson.
Cyber security firm Sonicwall registered over 50 million cryptojacking attacks in the first half of 2019, typically in the form of social engineering or other online scams similar to the Bryant malware.
Sonicwall said cryptojacking techniques were evolving but that it remained “relevant as a lucrative option for cyber criminals”.

Here is the source. (https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/kobe-bryant-wallpaper-download-cryptocurrency-hackers-a9312041.html)

In order to protect your device used for bitcoin wallets, exchanges, bank accounts and other sensitive things, you need to get two devices, one for such sensitive things and will not be used for browsing, no matter how expert how are, if they use their device to browsing, there is possibility of installing malware unknowingly.

Using another device for heavy browsing will be good,  not your sensitive devices. Like having two phones, one for only sensitive things and should only go online for such purposes related to bitcoin wallets or exchanges while the other for browsing and related things.

all methods are done by people who really want to take not his, through innovation that is always renewable. this behavior is very regrettable but we can not do anything with it, unfortunately the intelligence that is only to do harm to others.

information carried out like this is very useful for many people not to be caught in the fraud.
maybe not just someone who has big capital will be eroded by this action. it could also be about anyone or maybe even those who actually need it for their life's interests in a pandemic situation like this. This is unfortunate and very unwise, so that law enforcement authorities can immediately intervene to stop it, and we can only provide information to each other so as not to continue to harm many people.

Dam can't guess at what extent people could go to earn money. That is a really shameful act in the first place I mean. Considering how fast we are moving in the fabric of internet of thing (IoT) we need to put ourselves at higher securities. It's like we have only one security gate but these hackers will always develop a new back door and before you could even notice they will hack it all.

Like I came to know the news from you now, but what if I would have gone through the process of downloading those images and gotten hacked already. It would have been useless to read these articles right now. Pity.

This is more than just a scamming act. A genius programmer hijacking your computer through a wallpaper or a photo that was downloaded to your desktop secretly mining crypto for him. That's actually insane.
An average person like me and many of us won't notice that our computer is actually mining crypto and using our hardware and internet connection to earn for the hacker.

Now, this is another additional education for us not to download anything in the internet, specially when your storing financial information to your computer.

This is an old news already, if you're going to look at the article,


And the latest that these scammers taking advantage of the situation or at least a death of someone is: [Warning]: George Floyd token FLYD. (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5253899.0)

Humanity is getting lost from the people day by day. A scammer's identity is the only scammer, so it's not surprising to me that someone getting the advantage of a dead person. More sadly, is that scammer using the processing power by hacking other computers. But I am a little confused, is it too much profitable for scammers? Because who knows how long the hacked computer will be online and need a good data connection as well.

Anyway, it's more dangerous for crypto-currency users since hackers are operating the computer. They might even hack our wallet. Increasing awareness regarding this kind of scam would save people and we shouldn't download anything from untrusted sources as well.

Hackers are hackers, we don't have any choice but to continue doing
our protection securing our devices.
A shame since Kobe was a  really legend and fans are dying to download
things regarding to him.
Easy to be moved and hackers can easily penetrate.



That's the problem and for sure same happened with those who find
this news until today.
It's really better to separate your crypto device from your regular one.

This is a whole new level of scamming, although the concept is still the same that they use a high profile personality, the difference is that they use a wallpaper to hijack a computer which is unique. This is the first time that I've read this kind of scamming reports and this make me become alerted in downloading pictures or wallpaper in those websites that I'm going to visit.

Thank you so much for this OP.


This is really a one of a kind strategy of those scammers, no one can really thought that they can mine cryptocurrency in just a simple wallpaper. This makes me anxious about the things that I've downloaded in the past few months, I'll always check my wallet and delete the things that I don't need in my computer. Prevention is better than recovering all our losses due to carelessness.

Yeah, that is why I have been using Ledger Nano since long. It's better to move earnings, investments into it and keep it disconnected from the internet. Since internet is only the gate to reach the funds in the hardware wallets. Back in time when I used to do mining I had the ETH address set to Ledger directly, din't even needed to check the wallet since everything goes off the network without seeing it. On the other hand we all know blockchain's integrity is strongest one against such attacks.

Where we loose the fund is online wallets, exchangers, contracts etc. they are directly connected one and liable to hacks.

I just can't believe how low could this people be using someones death in order to scam people?
I am not surprise but how could those people eat or even sleep? I am not just talking about this picture of Kobe Bryant but also for those who use other person or death/sick person to scam or gain money from others.
There are other ways to earn but why would they even use this kind of move just to gain money?

Those scammers are sociopaths.They can't feel shame or guilt.All they want is money and nothing can stop them.
Who still downloads pictures of celebrities nowadays?We are in the era of social media and services like Google photos.What's the point of downloading an image file on your PC?
Anyway,this news is just another "opportunity" for Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies in general to appear again on the mainstream media and be pointed out as a "scam" or "criminal currency".

These people has no conscience and they  don't care  about everything because  their Goal is to make money no matter what it takes,Just like people can KIll people in the name of  money this is more  lighter because they are only using the death of others just to make money.

These people always active if there are big event happens specially world wide events.

thats why for our own safeties  lets not  just Jump to every downloads  or links about the latest  issue,instead  check the details first  if it is safe or not.

i believe that this happens last January 31 when Kobe's death is really talk of the town.

When it comes to money, scammers don't feel anything. They don't care to anyone or feel bad as long as they get enough money to benefit themselves. Scammers don't have conscience, they can sleep or eat so easily because from the very start, this is what they do for a living.
There are other ways to earn indeed, however, they prefer the easiest way possible to earn money even if it turns out to be a bad activity.

There is hardly anything hackers don't capitalise on to hack innocent users of systems i am thinking  symposium should be held to further sensitise people on the need for them to be laert and not be ignorant of devises of these hackers. Most hackers capitalise on the ignorance of users and that makes them vulnerable.

They can still earn income by using their knowledge and skills in a good and ethical manner. However, some people really want to earn big money so easily and I think that's the reason why hackers and scammers still choose to do it.

Scamming and hacking is indeed increasing because more people are getting into technology and the internet, and that's an opportunity for them. Especially now that we've seen a lot of similar cases recently, and for sure it will increase more.

So disgusting :-\. What an act of desperation just to earn money. They now have the guts to take advantage of a deceased individual. They're evolving and I hate it.

---

Anyway, Is that even possible?! I can't believe it. I thought such malware can be found only from infected applications/software. Actually one of the signs I knew if your device is now used as mining power by the hackers is when you noticed that your device is overheating despite of not using mobile network on that particular app. Hmm, now I'm wondering what signs we can see if we accidentally downloaded an infected picture knowing that it's less power consuming. Is it the same?

They can but they don't want. They are confident of doing illegal things because they knew that they can easily escape through their outstanding computer skills. That's a sad fact :(.

I find it fascinating and shameful at the same time.
Fascinating because just a mere image can make you a victim of a hacker to mine crypto on your device.
Just imagine the level of expertise that person would be having who figures such an attack at the first place.

Shameful because the attacker could have done this with any image but he chose a person who is already dead.
But we can't blame him though since these people are known to have no feelings at all.

 Not really surprise. Any benefit that might attract people will do. Steganography can be use to deliver these digital crimes. Only way to prevent is always keep our finger away from unknown domains and run softwares to virtual box for security reasons.

Sadly, they've been using a dead person for their evil act. Cryptocurrencies are not meant for this and must never be use for such an acts!

This happens quite often, which means that people are deceived and fraudsters continue to steal your money.

These people never get tired of trying different strategies just to scam people, they are sure pathetic losers in a bad way. Let's share this so that everyone are aware of this scam scheme using a dead big personality to fraud people.  I wish they used their talent and skills in a good way, it surely be a good act and good thing to do instead of hacking and scamming people. Nonetheless, i hope they will not succeed that will serve as justice for using dead's man popularity.

Didn't expect this it was possible to run a software or some kind of application in the background with just downloading a photo.

Maybe you could easily notice that something is wrong when you download that file, I doubt if they could run some programs in a JPEG or PNG file.

Buts it's common running some programs in a someone's pc to mine some bitcoin.

It is really surprising how the methods or the way hackers do intrude other people's private belongings most specially private informations stored in devices have evolved throughout the years because imagine even a wallpaper that supposedly serve as memoir or tribute for the NBA Basketball Legend and Superstar Kobe Bryant have been used for such illegal doings. This just proves how people most specially on the part of hackers will evolve their skills to do everything for the sake of obtaining money coming from other people's account.


I agree on this and I really like the idea on how using two devices could be a possible solution for cases like this because it will keep your private information and social information apart which makes it safer for you to browse things up most specially this days that we do not totally know if such links or sites can be reliable. The challenge on using two devices is now to identify if when or how you will use those phones because there might come times that you think what you are browsing is a legit site or link but turns out to be not and you have used your device that is intended for private matters. But the idea of this was really good for me though it is a hassle because you will be using separate devices but if it could be a possible thing to keep your private information safe, then why not give it a try then.

When money talks, people will do anything about it because the world revolve around money.

If you don't have money, you are useless.
If you have money, you are powerful.

That's the mentality that is in the mindset of most of us, investors, that's why we are working so hard just to earn profits everyday.

That's the reason why they are so good and creative at stealing your money. These pathetic human beings are just stealing money from everyone using networks and software. That's the reason why I used two, hardware and software so that I have different wallets where I can store my money. Just don't click any suspicious link in a website or any suspicious ads because it can manipulate your computer's system. Always remember that hackers and scammers are everywhere, so be aware.

I didn't expect that this will may happen there is no really safe right now with the use of the devices because everything right now they are doing just to earn money. We cannot make any suspicious out there because it's just a normal picture most of us right now is downloading a lot of images to the Internet because this is the easiest now right now they can make a virus with the use of downloading those images.


If we are talking about money most of the people getting greed and want to earn more if you want to earn daily profit you just need to think in the other way which is not common and easiest to get money and according to the post of OP, this is one of these.

Right now there is no safety information right here because we have a lot of access to the internet and everything we visit there are a cookie and digital footprint that can use to us and selling the information.

What?! C'mon. Using a dead person just to take advantage of others and earn money? These kind of people have no respect.

It shows how desperate they are but it also shows how smart they are. Personally, I didn't know that such kind of scheme exists. I'm a type of person who likes to download pictures of a beautiful place or my favorite person or celebrity so this is a warning for me to be more careful. Hackers and scammers are everywhere and they're smart. I guess the best way to outsmart them is for us to be more careful with what we do online and offline. Think before you click — always.

Most sad moment for Kobe Bryant family why they use Kobe Bryant to make manipulated and scam the other, I think scammer is crazy and do not have ideas what is the best way to give support to Kobe Bryant, I think scammer always building every day although one by one under arest every time but not give impact for other scammer.

They always take opportunities in whatever extent that they can do, money matters and it's all about it.


It's better to exposed this hackers to help more fans to avoid certain activities now that we are already aware of this  sharing it will
bring awareness to more people to prevent downloading this to their machines.


If they only do that for sure they can make much better opportunities but those hackers always looking for easy take
that's why they are in this kind of hacking.


Looking also for that same result, respect to Kobe and for this legacy to this sport.

Maybe they gained a lot in scamming the people. As we know that scammers and hackers would not make a crime for a cent only. If they wanna scam people, they will probably calculate their expenses and risks to their revenues.

It is really dangerous in cryptocurrency, that is why we should be more careful in clicking some sites because only one thing that we bait, our funds will gone. I hope this OP will become an alert for all of us here in crypto.

Now scammers like to use the name famous people for scamming people, before they prove successful some hackers use accounts
twitter famous peoples. And the next picture of Kobe Bryant used for hiding malware, this cryptojacking worm is also terrible after
me read the article. Therefore I have two different devices for just browsing and looking for entertainment, with other device use for
transaction-specific finance that I do on the internet.

The fact that the people sees hackers as a bad person is probably the reason why they aren't doing ethical hacking. Only those who are working under a company or a high ranked organizations are the ones who are doing ethical hacking.

In order for the hackers to make money, they will do everything even it is unethical like this. Didn't expect that they will use him for hacking but at the same I didn't surprised that they do it. Anything that can be used for hacking will be used by these stupid hackers. Lets just be vigilant and careful with what we are downloading.

This isn't new, but really goes to show how creative a piece of scam and malware can get.
Using a famous person's death might get some people's guard down in trusting the host, only to download what's essentially a piece of malicious code.

Thankfully for those that got this particular malware, it was mostly using their processor time for mining for someone else. It wasn't a full compromise at least according to how it was reported. This type of malware must also be easier to pass through antivirus software.

Sadly this is nothing new. Scammers always use well known to general public events like disasters, death of famous people, famous people in general etc.
This gets people attention to begin with, this is normal from psychological standpoint.
You just need to see past it, be couple steps ahead and not fall for such tricks.

Wow, pretty sure scammers becoming techie nowadays so I should be careful now in downloading malware programs or this one is a little bit tricky for just using picture which could download a hacking tool program. Really if one is holding crypto then definitely it is a good practice to use offline or hardware wallet for it especially for bitcoin. Not accessing online also would be advisable and only when it is really needed to avoid any possibilities of getting phished out using this program that they made to access your computer and gain important details in it like private keys to the wallet.

This is common even back then. The use of injecting malware to pictures and even pdf files can be done by simply using Kali linux and metasploit. I've read some of thread in here that talks about such image and file injection but I can't remember where I've read it. And I think it was expected that the death of a Legend could open a way to scammers and thieves to make profit out of it. But the issue here is simple, malwares and putting a mining script in it is simply legal. I assume that those makers doesn't know what entrepreneurship was lol. They can profit on the other way such as making items with Kobe in it..

As long as they are having victims, it will not stop.

I don't know whats going on with their minds not even thinking that people needed that money than them. Anyway, thanks for this. Despite the time this was posted, it makes us aware of the possible tracks they can do to scam people. If this happened, any ways we can stop that bug from minin using our PCs?

Those people will do everything, as they are knowledgeable that there are victims that will continue being victimized by their works.

Sad to say that every fans who loves Kobe will have the chance being infected of this mining script,
once they download the file it will automatically run inside their machines without knowing it,.

Better to work extra with careful whenever you are dealing online, this info will help people to avoid getting infected, sharing it will
lessen the spread.

Everything is possible for hackers to do anything. This malware is an example. Even simple wallpaper pictures contains malware inside it. My first time to know about this since I am only aware of those apps containing malwares.

It is very important to know where those can be downloaded so we can be aware and prevent to visit and download such pictures. But regardless of the source or website, if we have crypto coins in our wallets, it is still "best" not to download anything for the sake of our funds. Safety and secured account is morr significant.

I got thinking that storing money (crypto currency) in a device that connected to internet will never be save even though in an exchange. I read several news on this morning and there is a cases where a thousand of bitcoin from the hacked exchange has sent to some exchanges. This is pointed out that your asset never be safe if you keep them in an exchange. Because the scammer can hack you phone when you try to open your account, such this malware who can attack to your account when you've downloaded something in the internet. You can store your asset on the cold wallet and sell it when you have profited.

I hope my PC is not hacked, I love Kobe, I'm his fan and I download a picture of him as my deskstop wallpaper and I also do the same with my phone.

Look.

https://imgbbb.com/images/2020/08/04/pick.jpg

So far, I don't feel anything strange with my PC, I think I'm safe, and I am not too worry about downloading as most of my important files and information are stored in a dedicated computer for crypto alone.

Scammers and hackers are very smart, they are using every opportunity they can find just to steal from us, so we should be aware of that and what we should do is to prevent that from happening to us, and that's the reason why we make such good control of our relevant information.

The location or link of the pictures should be known so that people can be warned early. One thing about this worm though is that it is an impressive work for those hackers to create a way to exploit unsuspecting people. We should create a info board that details different scams kind of like archive but scams only, I think that will help many websurfers so that they do not fall victims in case they encounter a different scam with similar scheme. Regarding the places where people download things is pretty faulty in my opinion because most of the time some legitimate sources can have bad apples in disguise.

LOL, just because the picture of Kobe were being used for scamming doesn't mean that all of the pictures of Kobe are having this hacking program. Besides, the hacking program is still under ongoing investigation and still not proven to be real. Well just wait for OP to update this new hacking Scheme. I do not think why the death of a certain basketball superstar would become an issue suddenly because of this hacking incident. Pretty sure if there are really event that happen as what stated then someone will get held liable to it after getting caught.

I think this is more of hijacking than scamming, and it is normal for hackers to do any means to do their hacking activities and this time, they saw an opportunity of exploiting the death of a famous NBA player to do their illegal activities.  I wonder if the file is a jpg format or an exe.  Haven't heard a case about a .jpg extension carrying a malware and this would be my first time to hear it.

Well, that's not news in 2020. It has long been known that hackers are the smartest people on the planet and their minds are focused on personal material enrichment. I think this is a problem specifically for the people themselves and their inner egoistic center. To get rid of such cases, install antivirus SOFTWARE and do not download any garbage from the Internet to your personal computers and laptops.

The act was a combination of hacking and scamming. Scamming in a sense because they are using the image of Kobe Bryant to attract people on downloading the wallpaper that contains crytojacking worms which is a knowledge used for hacking. Scammers and hackers are really up into innovated strategies to lure people just to get their goal of getting other people's important details to be able to get their money. It just clearly states how those two crimes are now being fused by such group of people to execute crimes which they do for the sake of their own selves.

This is really alarming in a sense that you being a fan of a famous personality could be victimized by this act since the goal of scamming might be caught on act but the hacking that is hidden on the wallpapers are hard to be discovered. This calls for every people to keep themselves safe at all times not to easily patronize items coming from online because those might serve as a front act just for the scammers and hackers be able to gain access on your device and get what they want. Basically do not install nor download anything coming from an unknown sources to avoid this to happen and secure your device by installing anti virus so that once it comes into your device, you can be able to get rid of it. But still prevention is better than cure.

Hackers have existed since the internet began, it’s nothing new. It makes me annoyed that the media report these things as if it’s exclusive to bitcoin. Fraud & scams have existed for probably hundreds of years since anything of monetary value was introduced.

That is true but for most people Bitcoin is still something new and unknown and.they can easy be convinced that scams in virtual world is caused by or for Bitcoin. Unfortunately, scamers don't choose the methods they use, their only care how to get the money from naive people and so far they are doing very well. And internet and virtual space as well as cryptocurrencies make their job much easier, we have to admit that.

If you are having good antivirus software and other tools then there is nothing much to worry if you are storing all your sensitive information on a dedicated computer that is not attached to an internet connection.

If you are careful with the websites you visit and the contents you download then these scammers and hackers cannot do anything. All you have to do is to be smart when online and everything will be fine.

Really these people only look at opportunities, they are criminals and they have chosen that path as a profession.

These types of situations always seek to take advantage of special circumstances to apply social engineering. Many forget and don't even believe that a simple click on a link can be so damaging.

With the high number of cases that has been witnessed, its then safe to say its really not about Kobe Bryant rather its about the people who are using celebrities images to achieve their own selfish interest. I am sure that if there is another celebrity or event that would mean people downloading some huge amount of images across the web, they will still find a way to ensure that the malicious software is embedded in such. This is further a call to everyone to be weary of trends happening across the globe as that is the machinery they use in carrying out their own activities.

As everyone says "think before you click" because not everything in the internet is safe and secured, and unsecured sites are one of the ways to traced and hacked your accounts. Scammers and hackers will definitely do anything just to take advantage on other people because it is one of their source of income that they don't care about the people they steal, so using Kobe Bryant's death is one of their choice or way to attracts people attention for to click bait them.

I am thinking of getting aother phone where my asset will be stored at home, never leaving my house and only come online whenever I need fund for heavy trading, and just to move out fund, having my telegram only installed for connection of transfer. I understand a hardware wallet can do this, I don't know where to get a trusted one in my country, I lose the contact of a friend who use to sell.

with increasingly craze and the competition is quite fierce right now people are trying to do various ways to get big profits, but their dirty ways by involving digital money as a tool to make transactions, so that digital money like bitcoin is negative in the eyes of the public,
Unsecured security software is an opportunity for criminals to get what they want..

I have downloaded different thing but it's not a Kobe picture but almost the same thing happened to me. And that file was downloaded 3-4 years ago.

Until I have scanned my PC after a long time, there's a detection of these worms and miners. I didn't know that it's for real until I have read the same thing before so I'm being careful in downloading files these days.

It is really fascinating how the technology evolves, I didn't imagine in my life that I could get a malware just for clicking an image, however I doubt it, I really do coz there must be something, a link maybe and one thing why would you just simply click a picture on a random website?

I've heard about this a long time ago, but I did not believe it. But way back, it can be easily detected as the other says.

I'm a fan of Kobe, not a solid but I idolize him on and off the court, it is really bothering how people be swallowing their conscience for the money. More probably he did that coz Kobe's a celebrity, and people would be easily fall for it, having an awesome kobe's desktop wallpaper. This is what most of the scammers do, get into the trend for more target victims.

Perhaps, these people find hacking as an easy way for them to earn money. There's no doubt that they are also a fan of Kobe, too bad that they didn't respect his death by using him to frauds.

By the way, there are ways to reduce the risk even if we download these files, just make sure that our antivirus is always updated, and make sure that we aren't filling up suspicious softwares that sends our data for no clear purpose.

Reality is real shitty desperate people would use anything they could in order to earn even if they would use the deceased or sick people.
I have seen some people carrying baby in the street to beg for money even if it isn't their baby or using some medical document of some sick people to beg even though there isn't really sick on their family.
People would use anything to get sympathy and get money from it.

it is true that behavior like you said has become a livelihood in itself and there is even a separate syndicate that shelters them with such jobs.
if anyone does something to them there will be help from the shelters. it seems that this has become a very attractive syndicate to make money from people who feel sorry for it.

The problem is that there are still many who sympathize with this kind of treatment which will result in them not wanting to change themselves so that they can try. if only no one was sympathetic, then this behavior would naturally disappear because it was no longer profitable.

That's life, there are people who don't mind doing this for the sake of getting money.
Nothing else is important but to earn.


Sad thing but like what you have said, it's reality and its very frustrating to see
those who are doing such acts.


For them, it's the easiest way to compensate, as long as there's people who are
being victimized this kind of people will not stop.

From what I read in the article about how you can protect yourself from hijacking, is you need to update both your antivirus and operating system to be able to scan those malicious files hiding in your devices to secretly mine cryptocurrencies. Every time you accidentally download on of those files, they automatically delete it. it depends on what antivirus you are using though as some of them is just nothing compared to the others. what are your thoughts on this?

https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/what-is-cryptojacking-how-to-protect-your-self/

The end Focus is to earn. People look for all the possible ways to earn. The trend and the process of scamming people changes with time. Now the data and credentials extraction through the processed image. As the technology advance, there is better and bigger progress with the development in ways of hack and data extraction.

The first time I read about cryptojacking is when Firefox tries to update my android version in my smartphone.
It is actually called cryptomining.
But when you Google it now "cryptojacking" will pop out as the definition of it.

It's not new to use a popular person as a means to where they will input it.
Either by e-mail or in this case, these photos to be used as wallpaper.
I guess Firefox received a lot of complaints about it and now trying to prevent it.