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Despite the name \u201cEtherHiding,\u201d the new attack vector<\/a> that hides malicious code in blockchain smart contracts doesn\u2019t have much to do with Ethereum at all, cybersecurity analysts have revealed.<\/p>\n As reported by Cointelegraph on Oct. 16, EtherHiding has been discovered as\u00a0a new way<\/a> for bad actors to hide malicious payloads inside smart contracts \u2014 with the ultimate goal of distributing malware to unsuspecting victims. <\/p>\n These cybercriminals tend to prefer using Binance\u2019s BNB Smart Chain<\/a>, it is understood.<\/p>\n Speaking to Cointelegraph, a security researcher from blockchain security firm CertiK, Joe Green, said most of this is due to BNB Smart Chain\u2019s lower costs. <\/p>\n \u201cThe handling fee of BSC is much cheaper than that of ETH, but the network stability and speed are the same because each update of JavaScript Payload is very cheap meaning there\u2019s no financial pressure.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n EtherHiding attacks are initiated by hackers compromising WordPress<\/a> websites and injecting code that pulls partial payloads buried in Binance smart contracts. The website\u2019s front end is replaced by a fake update browser prompt which when clicked pulls the JavaScript payload from the Binance blockchain. <\/p>\n The actors frequently change the malware payloads and update website domains to evade detection. This allows them to continuously serve users fresh malware downloads disguised as browser updates, Green explained. <\/p>\n Another reason, according to security researchers at Web3 analytics firm 0xScope, could be because of increased security-related scrutiny on Ethereum. <\/p>\n “While we are unlikely to know the EtherHiding hacker’s true motives for using BNB Smart Chain over other blockchains for their scheme, one possible factor is the increased security-related scrutiny on Ethereum.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Hackers may face higher risks of discovery by injecting their malicious code using Ethereum due to systems such as Infura\u2019s IP address tracking<\/a> for MetaMask transactions, they said. <\/p>\n Related: <\/em><\/strong>Crypto investors under attack by new malware, reveals Cisco Talos<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The 0xScope team told Cointelegraph they recently tracked the money flow between hacker addresses on BNB Smart Chain and Ethereum. <\/p>\n Key addresses were linked to NFT marketplace OpenSea users and Copper custody services, it reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Payloads were updated daily across 18 identified hacker domains. This sophistication makes EtherHiding hard to detect and stop, the firm concluded. <\/p>\n