A new report has revealed how cybercriminals sell hacked crypto accounts for as low as $30. Data from security provider Privacy Affairs showed hackers now have a grade of prices in which they sell hacked crypto accounts. The price of the accounts sold here depends on the popularity of the crypto exchanges.
Well-known crypto exchanges such as Kraken and Binance come at over $1,000. But some less-known exchanges, such as Bittrex, come at $30. Nevertheless, data shows the rate at which hackers are selling compromised exchanges has increased drastically.
A research paper by online data security provider Privacy Affairs titled “The Dark Web Price Index" analyzed the widespread crypto hacking, leading to a large number of compromised financial accounts. The research paper was released on the 24th of April, 2023, and gives an overview of how hackers steal and sell financial data for quick money.
Crypto Account Prices Have Significantly Increased
Compared to the last research paper by online data security provider Privacy Affairs, the price of crypto accounts has significantly increased. This year the price of a crypto account from Kraken comes to $1,170. Binance follows closely at the price of $410. Crypto.com-verified accounts come at the price of $300, Coinbase at $250, and finally, U.S.-verified Bittrex accounts at $30.
All these prices are quite different from what they were sold for last year. Compared to last year, they were relatively lower than what is sold today. As of 2022, a verified account from a prominent crypto exchange like Kraken came at the price of $260, while for Binance, it was sold at $250. Other crypto exchanges' accounts were also sold at a relatively low price. When hackers get access to a compromised account, they are able to bypass the Know Your Customer (KYC) process on the exchange.
Crypto Exchange Account not the Only One Affected
Privacy Affairs report shows that accounts from crypto exchanges aren't the only ones affected by the ongoing heist by cyber criminals. Dark web sites now sell information on other financial services such as debit and credit cards. Especially for credit cards, accounts with up to $5,000 can be sold at less than $200. The buyers of these credit cards usually need the login credentials before they make payment. For accounts with $2,000 and below, they are typically sold at the rate of $60.
Social media accounts are also involved in the sales, as accounts from valuable platforms such as Gmail, LinkedIn, and even Airbnb are sold for a specific price, starting at $25.
Privacy Affairs security researcher Miklos Zoltan said internet users should be very careful of how they use their accounts. They should also ensure they secure their Web3 accounts effectively, using methods such as two and multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security.
"If someone gets their hands on your financial details or social media credentials, the prices mentioned above are basically what it’s worth to them. There’s a good chance that you value these things much more than they do, as to them, you’re just another mark for a quick buck," Zoltan said.