Twitter bitcoin hack: List of affected accounts includes Elon Musk, Bill Gates
The hacked accounts sent out tweets soliciting the public to send bitcoin to a specific address.
Hackers took control of Twitter accounts belonging to top companies and leaders throughout the business, tech and political landscape on Wednesday in an apparent scheme to steal Bitcoin from their unsuspecting followers.
The hacked accounts sent out tweets soliciting the public to send bitcoin to a specific address. Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, co-founders of cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, first raised alarms about the hack, tweeting “ALL MAJOR CRYPTO TWITTER ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED.”
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“We are aware of a security incident impacting accounts on Twitter," the social media platform said in a statement. "We are investigating and taking steps to fix it. We will update everyone shortly.”
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Screenshot of Bill Gates' compromised Twitter account. (Twitter screenshot)
Bitcoin transactions are irreversible. Anyone who deposits cryptocurrency in a bitcoin wallet would be unable to recover their money unless the recipient opted to return it.
FOX Business breaks down all public figures affected by the Twitter hack below:
- Apple
- Binance
- Coinbase
- Coindesk
- Gemini
- Uber
- Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO
- Kanye West, music mogul
- Bill Gates, Microsoft CEO
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- Elon Musk, Tesla and SpaceX CEO
- Joe Biden, 2020 Democratic presidential nominee
- Barack Obama, former U.S. president
- Warren Buffett, billionaire investor
- Michael Bloomberg, billionaire and former democratic presidential candidate