Community Sandbox alerts of a security breach, warns users not to interact with suspicious emails: all the details
The Sandbox, a popular metaverse company, has warned community members of a security breach. According to the latest blog post, the platform has revealed that an unauthorized third part has managed to bypass its security measures and may have collected details on its users. The Sandbox community has been warned not to interact with any suspicious email, which could allow attackers to access and steal their digital assets. This incident marks the first major hack reported by the Web3 sector in 2023.
The malicious email address, which may have reached the email inboxes of members of The Sandbox community, is “Access Game Sandbox (PURELAND)”. The mail contains links to malware capable of secretly installing itself on unsuspecting users’ machines and gaining access to their information.
“An unauthorized third party gained access to the computer of an employee of The Sandbox. This enabled the third party to access a number of email addresses to which he then sent an email,” reads the official blog post.
The Web3 game ecosystem provider discovered the hack at the end of last month. It’s now reaching users who may have received a malicious phishing email. These people were instructed not to open, run or download anything from the links they received in the email.
“We have blocked employee accounts and access to The Sandbox, reformatted the employee’s laptop, and reset all relevant passwords, including requiring two-factor authentication. We have not identified any other implications. However, we are working to monitor the situation,” the blog added.
Sandbox required members of its community to run reliable antivirus software and also reformat affected systems. The mobile game company called The Sandbox was bought by Animoca Brands, a Hong Kong-based gaming software company in 2018. Animoca later revamped the platform as the metaverse developed.
Recently, The Sandbox metaverse has emerged as a hotspot for many brands looking to establish themselves in the metaverse. Last June, New York City’s iconic Times Square announced its address in Metaverse.
Dubai’s virtual asset regulator, Standard Charted Bank, Mastercard, and HSBC have also created virtual spaces in The Sandbox metaverse.
After its success, Animoca decided to invest more in the sector and participate in the expansion and adoption of metaverse technology. In December, Animuka Brands revealed its plan to unveil a massive $2 billion (roughly Rs. 16,260 crores) fund, intended for the metaverse business.
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