In a startling turn of events, renowned cryptocurrency exchange Remitano fell victim to a sophisticated cyber attack on September 14, resulting in the unauthorized withdrawal of a staggering $2.7 million worth of cryptocurrencies. The exchange promptly confirmed the breach, shedding light on the magnitude of the incident.
Tether, a widely-used stablecoin, swiftly intervened by freezing an address believed to be linked to the attacker, effectively safeguarding $1.4 million worth of customers’ digital assets. This decisive action by Tether prevented the pilfered crypto from being further moved or liquidated.
In a statement released on September 15, Remitano disclosed the breach and its aftermath. The company’s Security Management team identified a data breach originating from a third-party source, compromising sensitive information. Consequently, a fraction of funds from the exchange’s hot wallets found their way to suspicious wallet addresses via unauthorized withdrawal transactions.
Despite the alarming nature of the breach, Remitano assured its user base that their funds remained unscathed. The company emphatically stated, “[O]ur Security Management team discovered a data breach from a third-party source that had compromised some of our sensitive information. User funds have NOT been and will NOT be affected by this incident.” The exchange projected that normal deposit and withdrawal functionalities would be reinstated within 48 hours.
While Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin transactions are still operational, some other network functionalities may remain temporarily unavailable. Remitano, known for its focus on emerging markets, serves a diverse user base spanning Pakistan, Ghana, Venezuela, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, India, South Africa, Vietnam, and Nigeria.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threats faced by the cryptocurrency industry, underscoring the critical importance of robust security measures. The swift response by Tether in freezing the suspected address demonstrates the collaborative efforts within the crypto community to protect users and mitigate potential losses.
The investigation into the breach is ongoing, and Remitano has vowed to enhance its security protocols to fortify against future attacks. The crypto community watches closely, hoping for a swift resolution to this unfortunate event.
