The notorious hacking group, CiberInteligenciaSV, has successfully targeted the El Salvador Bitcoin Chivo Wallet. Despite this setback, El Salvador remains committed to its Bitcoin strategy and has recently integrated a Bitcoin Diploma program in schools.
The Chivo Wallet, which serves as the official Bitcoin wallet for El Salvador’s citizens, has fallen victim to a security breach. The attack was carried out by CiberInteligenciaSV, a well-known group of hackers, resulting in the exposure of the Chivo Wallet’s source code and VPN.
The hacking incident took place on Tuesday when CiberInteligenciaSV leaked part of the source code on BreachForums, a notorious forum frequented by cybercriminals. The hacker group stated, “This time I bring you the code that is inside the Bitcoin Chivo Wallet ATMs in El Salvador. Remember that it is a government wallet, and as you know, we do not sell, we publish everything for free for you.”
This breach raises concerns about the security of the Chivo Wallet, especially since it comes less than a month after the personal information of approximately 5.1 million Salvadorans was exposed in another attack. Surprisingly, VenariX, a local cybersecurity project, had hinted at the recent attack on Monday, stating on the X platform, “The hacker group CiberInteligenciaSV announces in its Telegram account that it will publish part of the source code and VPN accesses of Chivo Wallet.”
In addition to leaking the source code, the hackers also released VPN credentials that could grant unauthorized access to the network managing the Chivo ATMs throughout the country. The potential consequences of this breach are significant. It raises concerns about the integrity of the Chivo Wallet itself, as hackers could gain unauthorized access or take control of users’ accounts. Furthermore, the leak of the codes and VPN details raises worries about identity theft and fraud among the population. The Salvadoran government has yet to issue an official statement regarding this exposure.
Despite these challenges, El Salvador remains committed to its plan for the Chivo Wallet. Launched in September 2021, the wallet is part of the country’s ambitious strategy to legalize Bitcoin as a legal tender and reduce reliance on traditional banking systems. President Nayib Bukele announced that all 200 ATMs in El Salvador were fully operational, along with 50 additional ones installed in the US for Salvadorians’ use.
The Chivo Wallet offers several benefits to users, including free deposits, withdrawals, and purchases. Users can also transfer funds between their bank accounts and their Chivo wallets. Moreover, the option to top up the Chivo Wallet with credit, debit, and gift cards is available. Despite some technical glitches, the nation is taking steps to accelerate the acceptance of Bitcoin among its citizens. Recently, El Salvador introduced a Bitcoin Diploma program in public schools to enhance students’ awareness and understanding of Bitcoin’s technology.
Overall, despite the security breach on the Chivo Wallet, El Salvador’s commitment to its Bitcoin strategy remains unwavering. The integration of Bitcoin into various sectors of society, including education, highlights the nation’s determination to embrace this digital currency.
