Microsoft X Account Hijacked in Crypto Scam Linked to Fake Clippy Character

Microsoft's official X account, with over 13 million followers, was hijacked by attackers on October 1. The hijackers used the account to promote a fake Clippy impersonator pushing a $Clippy crypto token.

The attack began when @Microsoft followed and reposted a now-suspended Clippy impersonator called @clippymsftcto. This pattern resembled a pump-and-dump scheme built around the $Clippy token, with the Clippy angle likely helping to blend in due to Microsoft's past nostalgia for the character.

Microsoft confirmed that attackers gained unauthorized access and removed the posts, stating they never authorized any crypto token linked to Clippy, Microsoft, or $MSFT. The company also plans legal action against those behind the scam.