“Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway” scam Malware Removal

by Brendan Smith
September 22, 2023

“Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway” scam employs deceptive tactics, masquerading as a legitimate XRP airdrop organized by Ripple and its CEO. It spreads through misleading online advertisements and social media, promising victims substantial XRP rewards.

Once enticed by “Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway” scam, victims are directed to a fraudulent website, where they’re coerced into divulging personal information, cryptocurrency wallet details, or even making payments. This scam is a stark reminder of the dangers of online deception, emphasizing the need for vigilance and verification in the cryptocurrency space.

“Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway” Scam Overview

pop-up scam Overview

Screen of scam notification

Name “Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway”
Threat Type Phishing, Pop-up Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Detection “Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway” pop-up Scam
Related Domains ripplex2[.]net
Crypto Wallets Belonging To Scammers rJ1ZcMbvEatx82j2d3vcvR7HcfLoWAjnu3 (XRP)
Symptoms Fake error messages, fake system warnings, pop-up errors, hoax computer scan.
Distribution methods Compromised websites, rogue online pop-up ads, potentially unwanted applications.
Similar Behavior “Apple Crypto Giveaway”, “Your Account Is Successfully Debited”, “Your Windows 10 is infected with viruses”, “Your computer is disabled. Please call Microsoft”
Damage Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft, possible malware infections.

How does “Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway” scam work?

“Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway” scam purports to be a colossal XRP airdrop organized by the Ripple Foundation, with Brad Garlinghouse, the CEO of Ripple, depicted as the mastermind behind it. It falsely promises that participants can claim a portion of 100,000,000 XRP by clicking on a link that appears official on the webpage.

The scam is meticulously crafted to instill a sense of urgency and excitement, conveying that this giveaway is a unique celebration meant to express gratitude to the community for its support. Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that this is a textbook example of a giveaway scam.

The provided link is likely to lead unsuspecting victims to a fraudulent website where they might be coerced into divulging personal information, including wallet login credentials, or even payment details. This places them at grave risk of identity theft, financial fraud, or other malevolent activities.

How serious is this?

The seriousness of this issue cannot be understated. These scams frequently pose as genuine cryptocurrency giveaways or promotions, leveraging the reputations of well-known figures and organizations to appear credible. They entice individuals with the prospect of substantial cryptocurrency rewards in exchange for clicking on links or disclosing personal information.

In truth, their primary objective is to pilfer personal information, cryptocurrency wallet credentials, or even funds from unsuspecting victims. Exercising extreme caution when encountering unsolicited offers and meticulously verifying the authenticity of such promotions through official channels is absolutely imperative to prevent becoming a victim of cryptocurrency giveaway scams.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

My computer is infected with Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway malware, should I format my storage device to get rid of it?
Reformatting your storage device should only be considered as a last resort for removing Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway malware. Prior to taking such drastic action, it is advisable to perform a comprehensive scan using trustworthy antivirus or
What are the biggest issues that malware can cause?
Malware poses a significant risk to the security and privacy of sensitive information, potentially leading to identity theft, financial loss, and unauthorized access to personal accounts. Furthermore, it can disrupt the normal operation of a system, causing performance issues, system crashes, and data corruption.
What is the purpose of “Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway” scam?
The purpose of “Brad Garlinghouse Crypto Giveaway” scam is to enable remote access and control of compromised devices. It allows threat actors to perform various malicious activities, such as unauthorized access, data theft, system manipulation, and disabling security measures, potentially causing significant harm to individuals and organizations.
Will Gridinsoft Anti-Malware protect me from malware?
Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that sophisticated malware can remain hidden deep within the system. Consequently, conducting a complete system scan is imperative to detect and eradicate malware.

About the author

Brendan Smith

Cybersecurity analyst covering malware families, suspicious files, and detection alerts. Brendan focuses on clear explanations of what a warning means, when it may be a false positive, and which cleanup steps are appropriate.

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