- Scammers are now using a cracked version of TradingView Premium to steal crypto
- The cracked software is laced with crypto-stealing malware
- Scammers are promoting the free version on social media platforms like Reddit
Malicious actors have “cracked” popular charting platform TradingView Premium and are offering it for free with the intention of using it to steal crypto. Promoted through social media platforms like Reddit, the free TradingView Premium version is laced with crypto-stealing malware capable of emptying a victim’s wallet. The pirated software installs either Lumma Stealer or Atomic Stealer depending on whether it’s downloaded on a Windows or Mac PC respectively, an indication that it’s targeting serious crypto traders.
Free Lifetime Access?
According to Malwarebytes, the scammers “are lurking on subreddits visited by cryptocurrency traders” and promise that the “cracked” software offers “free lifetime access” for traders.
The malicious actors said the free software is part of their mission to create “a hub for traders chasing free tools and solid chats.” In some instances, they’re posing as Mac customer care agents to help the victims bypass the security checks that would prohibit the installation of the malware on their PCs.
Once installed, the malware ransacks a victim’s computer for passwords and other wallet authentication information and sends the data to a server in the Seychelles. On Mac computers, the malware mainly targets personal information while on Windows it searches for wallets and authentication details stored on web browsers or their extensions.
An Addition to the Scammers’ Toolkit
This scamming tactic is one of several that threat actors are using to nab unsuspecting crypto users. Three weeks ago, malicious actors used a fake web3 firm to defraud job seekers. Last month, they targeted Phantom wallet users using a fake update extension.
In other instances, scammers have turned to Telegram verification bots and scanning screenshots on Android devices to steal crypto.
With a TradingView Premium subscription costing $599 per year, an offer to get it for free is likely to nab novice traders looking for free premium crypto trading tools.
