How a Hacker Exploited Twitter’s Admin Tools in a Massive Crypto Scam
The Breach That Shook Twitter
In July 2020, Twitter faced one of its most significant security breaches when a hacker gained access to an internal “admin” tool, enabling them to hijack high-profile accounts. The attacker, operating under the alias “Kirk,” allegedly used this access to promote a cryptocurrency scam that netted over $100,000 in just hours.
High-Profile Targets
The attack compromised accounts belonging to some of the world’s most influential figures, including:
- Tech billionaires: Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos
- Political figures: Joe Biden (then Democratic presidential candidate)
- Cryptocurrency platforms: Binance and other major crypto accounts
Twitter later confirmed the incident was the result of a coordinated social engineering attack targeting employees with access to critical internal systems.
Inside the Attack
The Hacker’s Methodology
- Initial Access: Kirk allegedly began by selling coveted Twitter usernames before escalating to full account takeovers
- Admin Tool Exploitation: Gained control of an internal Twitter tool that allowed:
- Email address changes for targeted accounts
- Complete account suspension capabilities
- Scam Execution: Promoted a classic “double your money” Bitcoin scam through compromised accounts
The Underground Connection
- Kirk reportedly worked with members of OGUsers, a forum known for trading hacked social media handles
- Screenshots from Discord chats showed the hacker demanding “@’s and BTC” (Twitter usernames and Bitcoin) in exchange for services
Twitter’s Response
The platform took unprecedented measures to contain the breach:
- Temporarily suspended all verified accounts from tweeting
- Blocked certain account actions to prevent further spread
- Removed tweets sharing screenshots of the internal admin tool
Security Implications
This incident highlighted several critical vulnerabilities:
- The risks of social engineering attacks against tech company employees
- The dangers of excessive internal access privileges
- The growing sophistication of cryptocurrency-related scams
While Twitter quickly regained control, the breach served as a wake-up call for social media platforms regarding internal security protocols and the value of high-profile accounts in the digital underground economy.
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