SlowMist, a blockchain security firm, reported a rise in scams during the second quarter of 2025, with attackers focusing less on technical skill and more on manipulating user behavior.
According to SlowMist’s head of operations, Lisa, the tactics have become more effective by targeting how people respond under stress or urgency.
One example is a Chrome add-on called “Osiris” that claims to detect phishing and suspicious websites, but it quietly replaces downloaded files such as .exe, .dmg, and .zip with harmful ones.
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These downloads often originated from popular platforms like Notion or Zoom, and although the browser indicated that the files came from official sources, they had already been tampered with.
Once opened, the software searched the victim’s computer for sensitive information, including browser data and macOS Keychain contents.
Another type of scam targeted crypto hardware wallet users. In one case, a person lost $6.9 million after buying a wallet promoted on TikTok. Others purchased wallets that had already been activated by attackers, which drain funds as soon as the new owner makes a deposit.
SlowMist also investigated an incident involving a fake version of Revoke Cash, a tool that helps users cancel crypto wallet permissions. This fraudulent website looked identical to the real one but asked visitors to enter their private key.
SlowMist discovered that the site used EmailJS to send any entered data, including wallet addresses and private keys, straight to the attacker’s email inbox.
Recently, TRM Labs reported that approximately $2.1 billion in crypto was stolen during the first half of 2025. How? Read the full story.
Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.
