Artela Discord Compromise Fake Airdrop
Notice: This page is a freshly imported case study from an original repository. While the original content had a similar format, some sections may not have been fully completed. Please help fill in any empty sections or any missing information you can find. If you are new here, please read General Tutorial on Wikis or Anatomy of a Case Study for help getting started.
Notice: This page contains sources which are not attributed to any text. The unattributed sources follow the initial description. Please assist by visiting each source, reviewing the content, and placing that reference next to any text it can be used to support. Feel free to add any information that you come across which isn't present already. Sources which don't contain any relevant information can be removed. Broken links can be replaced with versions from the Internet Archive. See General Tutorial on Wikis, Anatomy of a Case Study, and/or Citing Your Sources Guide for additional information. Thanks for your help!
Artela is an advanced layer 1 network aimed at high performance with a "next-generation" execution layer. On August 23rd, the team reported that their Discord server was breached, and a fake airdrop was run. No details on the specific airdrop promotion could be found, nor does it appear that any users have reported being affected. The team reportedly dealt with the matter quickly and restored their Discord channel.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
About Artela Network
"Artela is an extensible L1 blockchain with parallel execution and modular VMs. With key innovation of EVM++, Artela enables modular, customizable, and scalable dApps."
"The Artela Blockchain is an advanced Layer 1 (L1) network that enables developers to implement user-defined native extensions and develop high-performance decentralized applications (dApps). It surpasses EVM-equivalence with superior extensibility and inter-domain interoperability. Featuring an innovative elastic block space design, Artela ensures boundless scalability, allowing applications to scale seamlessly with demand, optimizing performance and development flexibility."
"At the core of Artela's technological advancements is EVM++ - the next-generation Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) execution layer. EVM++ enhances blockchain extensibility by facilitating on-chain native extensions through the innovative EVM + Aspect approach. Additionally, it supports parallel execution, which significantly contributes to blockchain scalability. This dual capability ensures that Artela not only extends functionality but also optimizes performance for diverse blockchain applications."
"The parallel-execution EVM public chain Artela announced on the X platform that their official Discord was hacked today. The attacker took control of the Discord channel and spread fake airdrop messages. The team took immediate action, removed the fraudulent posts, and the Discord has now been restored."
The Reality
This sections is included if a case involved deception or information that was unknown at the time. Examples include:
- When the service was actually started (if different than the "official story").
- Who actually ran a service and their own personal history.
- How the service was structured behind the scenes. (For example, there was no "trading bot".)
- Details of what audits reported and how vulnerabilities were missed during auditing.
What Happened
An "attacker took control of the Discord channel and spread fake airdrop messages."
| Date | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| August 23rd, 2024 8:43:00 PM MDT | Post Made On Twitter | The Artela team posts on Twitter to notify their community about the Discord take-over. The community is advised to make sure they are using the correct links. At this time, they note that they have full control over the server and the perpetrator was found and dealt with quickly. |
| August 23rd, 2024 11:38:00 PM MDT | CoinLive Article Posted | CoinLive posts an article about the fake airdrop. |
| August 24th, 2024 1:00:00 AM MDT | CoinNess Global Post | CoinNess Global posts a tweet about the incident. |
Technical Details
This section includes specific detailed technical analysis of any security breaches which happened. What specific software vulnerabilities contributed to the problem and how were they exploited?
Total Amount Lost
The total amount lost is unknown.
How much was lost and how was it calculated? If there are conflicting reports, which are accurate and where does the discrepancy lie?
Immediate Reactions
"The parallel-execution EVM public chain Artela announced on the X platform that their official Discord was hacked today. The attacker took control of the Discord channel and spread fake airdrop messages. The team took immediate action, removed the fraudulent posts, and the Discord has now been restored."
"Fraud Alert for Artela Community Make sure you're using the correct links"
Our Discord was hacked today, affecting channel settings and spreading false airdrop news. We’ve taken immediate action to remove the fraudulent posts and the hacker’s account. We have full control of the server and the perpetrator was found quickly and dealt with."
"Beware of Fake Airdrops: Artela has no ongoing airdrop. Do not click on suspicious links or connect your wallet to unverified sites.
Stay safe and report security issues in our new Discord channel community-security.
As we approach the mainnet launch, expect more hack attempts. We’re enhancing security and urge everyone to remain vigilant.
Together, we keep Artela secure!"
Ultimate Outcome
What was the end result? Was any investigation done? Were any individuals prosecuted? Was there a lawsuit? Was any tracing done?
Total Amount Recovered
There do not appear to have been any funds recovered in this case.
What funds were recovered? What funds were reimbursed for those affected users?
Ongoing Developments
What parts of this case are still remaining to be concluded?
Individual Prevention Policies
No specific policies for individual prevention have yet been identified in this case.
For the full list of how to protect your funds as an individual, check our Prevention Policies for Individuals guide.
Platform Prevention Policies
Policies for platforms to take to prevent this situation have not yet been selected in this case.
For the full list of how to protect your funds as a financial service, check our Prevention Policies for Platforms guide.
Regulatory Prevention Policies
No specific regulatory policies have yet been identified in this case.
For the full list of regulatory policies that can prevent loss, check our Prevention Policies for Regulators guide.
References
- ↑ SlowMist Hacked - SlowMist Zone (Accessed Sep 16, 2024)
- ↑ @Artela_Network Twitter (Accessed Sep 17, 2024)
- ↑ @Artela_Network Twitter (Accessed Sep 17, 2024)
- ↑ Artela - Extend the functionality of blockchain (Accessed Sep 17, 2024)
- ↑ Intro to Artela | Artela Docs (Accessed Sep 17, 2024)
- ↑ @CoinnessGL Twitter (Accessed Sep 17, 2024)
- ↑ Artela Network: Discord community attacked by hackers, no users have been harmed yet (Accessed Sep 17, 2024)