CZ Hack Alert: Google Warns- Is Lazarus Group Involved?

Google’s CZ Hack Alert: Is Lazarus Group Targeting Binance Founder?

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, affectionately known as CZ in the crypto space, has received a security alert from Google warning of a potential state-sponsored hacking attempt. This has raised alarm over the potential involvement of North Korean hackers, the Lazarus Group.

Google’s CZ hack alert stirred the crypto community, increasing concerns of nation-state involvement in cyberattacks. This points to clearer evidence that high-profile targets in the industry, specifically, are being actively targeted by threat actors. This is garnering more attention as it pertains to a slew of attacks on crypto attacks on CZ-linked platforms.

CZ Hack Alert Raises Concerns

In a recent X post, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao revealed that he has been consistently receiving security threat alerts from Google. He posted the alert on his official X account, drawing attention to the persistent cybersecurity risks faced by leading figures in the crypto industry. The warning read, “Google may have detected government-backed attackers trying to steal your password.”

Zhao has long been outspoken about the cybersecurity risks facing the crypto space. He recently issued a warning to blockchain and Web3 projects about North Korean hacking groups, emphasizing that they have been deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics to infiltrate companies. He had described them as “advanced, creative, and patient.” 

Now, he suspects the involvement of the Lazarus Group in the attacks targeting him. Reinforcing this suspicion, he wrote on X,

“I get this warning from Google once in a while. Does anyone know what this is? North Korea Lazarus? Not that I have anything important on my account. But stay SAFU.”

Is the Crypto Community Safe?

Google routinely flags suspected state-backed attacks, particularly against prominent blockchain personalities. It also continues to caution users about phishing attempts and counterfeit websites posing as legitimate platforms.

This CZ hack alert has sparked renewed debate over the growing intersection between geopolitics and cryptocurrency. This raises questions about how major industry leaders could take caution against nation-state-level cyberattacks. The incident has left the community uneasy, as many now question their own safety — if someone as influential as CZ can be targeted, what protection do average users, exchange executives, or even core infrastructure providers really have?

Binance-Linked Scams

Over the past few weeks, CZ has witnessed a surge of security incidents aimed at platforms associated with Binance — including the exchange itself. As CoinGabbar reported recently, a Binance user lost around $91 million in Bitcoin in a sophisticated phishing scam.

Following that incident, BNB Chain fell victim to a hack, resulting in a loss of more than $13k in cryptocurrencies. In addition, the illegal player minted about 10 trillion of unauthorized tokens.

The most recent incident in the series is the PancakeSwap X account hack. As reported by CoinGabbar this week, PancakeSwap’s Chinese X account was compromised, although no losses have been reported so far.