Crypto User Loses $5,000 in Attack via Hotel Wi-Fi

A crypto investor known as "The Smart Ape" has lost approximately $5,000 from his hot wallet after spending several days at a hotel. The incident highlights the dangers of public networks and careless behavior in the crypto space.

The loss began with a critical mistake: the eventual victim spoke on the phone about cryptocurrencies in the hotel's public area, drawing the attention of another guest. When the investor connected his laptop to the hotel's password-free Wi-Fi, the attacker seized the opportunity to inject malicious JavaScript code into legitimate websites.

The actual theft occurred through so-called "approval abuse": during what appeared to be a normal transaction on the Solana DEX Jupiter using his Phantom wallet, the victim unknowingly granted permanent access authorization to his tokens. The perpetrator strategically waited several days after the victim's departure before withdrawing the assets.

Security experts recommend treating public networks as inherently unsafe and instead using mobile hotspots or VPNs. Additionally, holdings should be distributed across different wallets and every transaction should be critically reviewed. Conversations about crypto assets in public should be strictly avoided.