OKX, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, has issued a warning regarding fraudulent browser extensions impersonating its services on the Firefox plugin store. The company clarified that it has not released any official Firefox plugins and urged users to avoid downloading any such extensions.

Users who have inadvertently installed these malicious plugins are advised to immediately transfer their funds to secure wallets. OKX has reported the issue to Firefox officials, requesting the removal of the counterfeit extensions to prevent potential security breaches.

This incident highlights the ongoing threat of phishing scams within the cryptocurrency sector. A recent report by cybersecurity firm CertiK revealed that phishing attacks led to over $1 billion in losses across 296 campaigns in 2024, marking a 21% increase from the previous year.

To safeguard their assets, users are reminded to download software exclusively from official sources and remain vigilant against potential scams. OKX emphasized the importance of verifying the authenticity of browser extensions and other digital tools before installation.

Starknet, a zero-knowledge (ZK) layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum, has introduced the SN Stack, a comprehensive software suite that enables developers to create custom blockchains utilizing Starknet’s ZK technology.

The SN Stack is available in three configurations: StarkWare Sequencer, which closely mirrors the public Starknet stack; Madara, a fully customizable, open-source setup; and Dojo, optimized specifically for gaming applications. This modular approach offers developers the flexibility to tailor their blockchain solutions to specific needs.

Leo Sizaret, Business Development Manager at StarkWare, emphasized the significance of this launch, stating, “We believe zero knowledge technologies are the future of blockchain. It gives you exceptional security and scalability while also being Quantum resistant and cost-efficient.”

The introduction of the SN Stack comes amid growing concerns about the potential threats posed by quantum computing to current encryption standards. By leveraging zero-knowledge technology, Starknet aims to provide enhanced security and scalability, positioning itself as a robust solution in the evolving blockchain landscape.

Virtuals Protocol, an AI agent platform, experienced a security breach on January 8 when its Discord server was compromised due to a private key breach involving one of the moderators. This allowed unauthorized access, leading to the dissemination of fraudulent links within the server. The Virtuals team has since resolved the issue and restored the server’s security.

In a related incident, cybersecurity firm Scam Sniffer identified three malicious links on Google Search impersonating the Virtuals Protocol website. These phishing links aimed to deceive users into interacting with counterfeit platforms, potentially leading to financial losses. Scam Sniffer has advised users to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of links before engaging with them.

These events occurred shortly after a researcher discovered a critical bug in a Virtuals Protocol audited contract, which has since been fixed. The proximity of these incidents underscores the persistent security challenges faced by platforms in the digital asset space.

The cryptocurrency sector continues to grapple with sophisticated phishing scams and private key compromises. A recent report by blockchain security firm CertiK highlighted that phishing scams were the most costly security threats in 2024, resulting in over $1 billion in losses across 296 attack campaigns. Users are urged to remain vigilant and adhere to best security practices to safeguard their digital assets.