𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐇

Dusting attack refers to sending of small amount of coins (dust) to multiple wallets. If these coins are transferred, the transactional activity of the wallet is then tracked down by combined analysis of address and misused by the hackers to deanonymize the wallet owner’s identity. This knowledge is then used by the hackers to launch phishing attacks or cyber-extortion threats.

How to protect yourself against dusting attacks:
The most effective way of protecting yourself against dusting attacks is to not use/move/transfer the small amounts of coins (dust) you have received in your wallet. Doing so, the attacker is not able to make any connections that they need to deanonymize the wallet owner’s identity. So, if you believe that you have been dusted, don’t move the dust. Secondly, never give out your private information to any website or platform other than just the wallet address.

Example: On 9th August, 2019 a large-scale dusting attack took place on Litecoin holders. The data of the wallet owners was leaked. The attack was pointed out by Binance later. Other example of data leakage includes Wallet Maker Ledger users’ data theft which occurred in the year 2020.