WazirX laptops were not compromised during the attack, says Google subsidiary Mandiant

WazirX has released a report stating that its laptops were uncompromised during the cyber attack it suffered a month ago. Forensic analysis by Google subsidiary Mandiant Solutions backed up the Indian exchange’s report.

WazirX has provided a significant update, providing clarity on the source of the $200 million crypto cyber attack that rocked the Indian exchange over a month ago. In the announcement, the exchange clarified it had conducted a forensic analysis with Google subsidiary Mandiant.

Mandiant released its own report after analyzing the three laptops used by the WazirX team. Mandiant stated that the hack that caused the theft of over $230 million was not because of a laptop compromise. “We did not identify evidence of compromise on the three laptops that were used for signing transactions, said Mandiant.

Even though Mandiant has yet to release a detailed report on what went behind the crypto hack, WazirX says that the findings indicate that the issue that caused the hack originated from Liminal.

WazirX co-founder says they were not compromised 

WazirX co-founder Nischal Shetty also took to X to share the findings by Mandiant. Nischal also stated that Liminal chose to blame the exchange’s laptops quickly following the incident without any proof. “We’re glad that it’s all clear there is NO compromise on WazirX side,” Nischal said.

Liminal chose to blame WazirX laptops quickly post the incident without any proofs.

WazirX decided to bring in one of the best forensic team which is Mandiant, a Google subsidiary, to conduct a thorough forensic analysis of all three laptops that were involved during the… https://t.co/A285cMtNoA

— Nischal (Shardeum) ???? (@NischalShetty) August 19, 2024

Nischal stated that they are yet to hear credible answers from Liminal on what caused the hack, the extent of the breach in the exchange’s systems, whether the hack involved any insiders, and how the attackers ended up signing and approving the transaction.

Additionally, the WazirX co-founder mentioned that the report should put to rest any finders pointing at the exchange for wrongdoing or maliciousness.

Observers blame Nischal for keeping 45% of funds in one wallet

Prominent crypto community members have quickly pointed out the carelessness of the WazirX team below Nischal’s tweet. One of them was Aditya Singh.

This report create further doubts of careless by wazirx team.

First – careless by Wazirx team to keeping 45% of user funds in 1 cold wallet.

Note – Customer trusted wazirx not liminal. So you guys are at fault.

Second – It’s a multisign wallet which requires minimum 4…

— Aditya Singh (@CryptooAdy) August 19, 2024

Aditya tweeted that it was careless of the exchange’s team to keep 45% of users’ funds in 1 cold wallet. He also reminded the co-founder that customers trusted WazirX and not Liminal.

Secondly, Aditya questioned how the exchange approved 3 signatures without due diligence. He pointed out that Liminal only had access to one signature, which was the fourth one. If the laptops were not compromised, Aditya floated the possibility that the 3 signatures that came from the exchange were due to careless exchange signees, who did not even verify the transaction.