Google’s Threat Intelligence Group has uncovered a new wave of cyberattacks where hackers are using public blockchains to host and distribute malicious code. This alarming trend transforms one of the world’s most secure and tamper-resistant technologies into a stealthy channel for cybercrime.
According to Google’s latest report, several advanced threat actors, including one group suspected of operating on behalf of North Korea have begun embedding harmful code into smart contracts on major blockchain platforms such as Ethereum and the BNB Smart Chain. The technique, known as “EtherHiding,” allows attackers to conceal malware within the blockchain itself, creating a nearly untraceable and permanent delivery system.
Smart contracts were originally designed to enable transparent and trustworthy transactions without intermediaries. However, attackers are now exploiting their immutability to host malware that cannot be deleted or blocked. Once malicious code is written into a blockchain contract, it becomes permanently accessible to anyone who knows how to retrieve it.
This innovation replaces the need for traditional “bulletproof hosting” services, offshore servers that cybercriminals once used to evade law enforcement. By using blockchain networks instead, hackers can distribute malicious software at a fraction of the cost, often paying less than two dollars per contract update.
The decentralized nature of these systems eliminates any single point of failure,
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