AI-Generated Phishing Link Targets Crypto Developer with Malware

A crypto developer narrowly escaped malware after following recommendations from an artificial intelligence (AI) tool. Numa Lunah, co-founder of Web3 project NEAR Protocol, nearly lost control of his digital assets due to a phishing attack.

The incident began when Lunah asked AI assistant Claude for a link to download a transcription app. The AI provided an address that led to a fake website, where an infostealer was silently installed on the developer's laptop.

However, the threat wasn't eliminated even after a complete operating system reinstall. When attempting to restore files from a backup, Lunah discovered changes to his SKILL.md document used as a personal style guide for AI. The hackers had modified the file's structure, allowing it to connect to their server and download the infostealer again.

NEAR Protocol co-founder Illia Polosukhin warned about the critical importance of securing autonomous AI agent infrastructure and the growing number of campaigns using 'context poisoning' tactics.