Malicious Code Targets Cryptocurrency Exchange, State Department Deletes X Posts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a week marked by both cybersecurity threats and shifts in government communication, the dYdX cryptocurrency exchange suffered a significant security breach, while the State Department announced it would be deleting pre-2025 posts from its X accounts. These events, occurring amidst a backdrop of fluctuating cryptocurrency markets and political shifts, highlight the evolving landscape of digital security and government transparency.
According to security researchers from Socket, open-source packages published on the npm and PyPI repositories were compromised with malicious code. This code was designed to steal wallet credentials from dYdX developers and backend systems, potentially backdooring devices. The compromised versions of the "dydxprotocolv4-client-js" package, specifically versions 3.4.1 and 1.22.1, were identified as being at risk. The direct impact of the attack included complete wallet compromise and irreversible cryptocurrency theft, affecting all applications using the compromised versions, including developers and end-users.
Simultaneously, the State Department confirmed it would be removing all posts on its public accounts on the social media platform X made before President Trump returned to office on January 20, 2025. The posts will be archived internally, but will no longer be publicly accessible. A State Department employee stated that anyone wanting to see older posts would need to file a Freedom of Information Act request. This decision comes as the new administration takes control of the social media accounts.
The developments occurred as the cryptocurrency market experienced volatility. President Trump, who had vowed to make the U.S. "the crypto capital of the world" during his campaign, saw Bitcoin prices fluctuate. His administration has appointed regulators known to be friendly with the industry, and the Republican-led Congress has passed legislation that many critics believe goes too easy on the sector.
In other news, a growing number of Americans are participating in a boycott targeting tech companies. This boycott is in protest of what participants believe is a lack of action against the current administration's policies. For example, Brittany Trahan in Portland, Ore., has started buying DVDs instead of using streaming services, while Lisa Shannon has switched to public transit.
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