TON Blockchain Faces Increasing Phishing Attacks: SlowMist

cryptonews.com:

Telegram layer-1 blockchain The Open Network (TON) is facing growing phishing threats. On June 23, SlowMist warned of escalating attacks on the network, leaving its decentralized applications and millions of customers vulnerable to widespread fraud.

Yu Xian, founder of the blockchain security firm SlowMist, raised the alarm to address the recent security breaches on the TON blockchain.

Xian observed that the TON ecosystem had increasingly become an attractive target for phishing attackers amid the chain’s rapid growth this year.

The security expert pointed out that the TON phishing attacks stemmed from the ecosystem’s vulnerability, which made it easy for scammers to access message groups. Once they gain access, bad actors use phishing links and bot forms to deceive and steal from unsuspecting users within these groups.

“The Telegram ecosystem is too free, and many phishing links — or bot forms — are spread through message groups, airdrops, and other deceptive methods to lure away users’ TON wallets in batches,” Xian said.

Another particular concern is the heightened risk for Telegram users with anonymous numbers. These accounts are created without being tied to a SIM card, a feature introduced by Telegram in late 2022.

Xian warned that if these accounts are compromised through phishing attacks, users might lose access to their corresponding Telegram accounts. The risk is particularly serious with users who haven’t enabled additional security measures such as independent passwords or two-step verification.

The introduction of anonymous numbers on Telegram was initially seen as a privacy-enhancing feature, allowing users to log in without relying on a traditional SIM card. Instead, users can utilize blockchain-based anonymous