MetaMask and Blockaid Unite Against Phishing
MetaMask has partnered with Blockaid to unveil a feature designed to enhance the safety of its users against phishing attacks.
Proactive Defense with New Security Feature
Starting from today, MetaMask's desktop users can enhance their security by opting into an experimental feature that includes the Privacy Preserving Offline Module (PPOM). This module, crafted by MetaMask, functions as an offline safeguard, meticulously checking transactions and signatures before they're executed, without exposing sensitive information to any external servers.
Bárbara Schorchit, a senior figure at MetaMask, highlights the integration of Blockaid's dApp scanning technology as a pivotal element in this new security layer. This technology is capable of emulating user interactions with dApps to identify any potential malicious intent.
Gradual Rollout and Privacy Assurance
Initially, users who enable this feature will receive alerts for potentially harmful transactions. MetaMask is set to expand this feature to its mobile users come November and aims for a full integration for all users by early 2024. This careful rollout strategy is to ensure the accuracy of the feature, avoiding misidentification of safe transactions as threats.
Schorchit reassures users that privacy is a priority; the PPOM negates the need to share transaction details externally, keeping the validation process confined to the user's device.
The Persistent Threat of Phishing in Crypto
Phishing scams continue to be a prevalent danger in the crypto world. Blockaid's data suggests that a concerning percentage of dApps could be harmful, and many potential crypto adopters are deterred by the prevalence of scams.
Reports indicate a surge in crypto-related hacks and the staggering losses incurred in recent times. Bitrace's findings point to fake wallet applications as a significant risk, with their authentic appearance deceiving users into compromising their assets.
This collaboration between MetaMask and Blockaid represents a proactive step towards mitigating these risks and safeguarding the crypto community. (source)