Summary: Address hijacking is a malicious practice where scammers steal crypto funds by digitally replacing legitimate deposit or withdrawal addresses with their own. It normally happens when aSummary: Address hijacking is a malicious practice where scammers steal crypto funds by digitally replacing legitimate deposit or withdrawal addresses with their own. It normally happens when a

Learn/Crypto Basics/Security & Scams/How To Prevent Loss of Funds Caused by Address Hijacking

How To Prevent Loss of Funds Caused by Address Hijacking

Author: MEXC

Sep 21, 2026MEXC

3 min

#Beginners

LA$0.05087-2.32%

XX$0.002368-23.76%

Summary: Address hijacking is a malicious practice where scammers steal crypto funds by digitally replacing legitimate deposit or withdrawal addresses with their own. It normally happens when a victim uses unofficial software to send addresses for receiving crypto. Victims may also notice when they copy and paste addresses locally, the pasted address does not match the intended address.

How to protect yourself from address hijacking

1. Always download third-party chat applications from legitimate sources. Avoid cracked versions and unofficial localizations of otherwise legitimate software. Only download software directly from officially recognized app stores or the developers' platform.

2. Exercise caution when installing third-party browser extensions and avoid installing unreliable extensions from unofficial marketplaces.

3. Regularly update your device's operating system (iOS/Android/Windows/macOS), promptly install system security patches, keep your browser up to date, install antivirus software, and perform regular virus scans.

Test whether your address has been hijacked

1.In a chat application, send the address to a friend and compare the address they receive on their device. If they don't match, it indicates that the address has been hijacked.

2.When using a browser to make withdrawals on a CEX platform, there is usually a second confirmation screen for the address. Carefully check if the displayed address matches the intended address. If they don't match, it indicates that the browser interface has been hijacked. You can also test the address using a search engine. Paste the test withdrawal address into a search engine, click search, and check if the search keywords on the search results page match the address you entered.If they don't match, the browser interface may have been hijacked.

3.In your operating system, copy the test address and paste it into a notepad or other software. Compare the pasted address with the intended address. If they don't match, your entire clipboard may have been hijacked.

If you are the victim of address hijacking

1. If you suspect that the third-party chat application you use is hijacking your address, uninstall the application and download the official version from a legitimate source.

2. If you suspect that your browser has been hijacked, the most likely cause is a malicious browser extension or a counterfeit version of the browser. If you downloaded the browser from a legitimate source, uninstall any suspicious extensions. If you are unsure which extension may be the culprit, uninstall all extensions. If you did not download the browser from an official channel, uninstall and redownload it from an official source.

3. If you suspect that your OS has been hijacked (i.e. addresses change when copying and pasting locally), it is likely that your device has malware. Install antivirus software and scan for virusespromptly. Additionally, you should keep your system updated and regularly install security updates.

4. If none of these steps resolve your issue, you may need to consider reinstalling your operating system. Be aware that you will lose all your data if you reinstall your operating system. Consider visiting an official service center to help with reinstallation.

Market Opportunity

Lagrange Price(LA)

$0.05087

$0.05087$0.05087

+0.21%

USD

Lagrange (LA) Live Price Chart

Anthropic IPO Roadshow: When It Starts, Who Runs It and What Happens Next

The Anthropic IPO roadshow is the stretch where the bankers stop filing paperwork and start selling the deal. It has not started yet, but its earliest date is already fixed by an SEC rule, and its

Author: MEXC Editorial Team

2026-11-06

ANT Stock: Anthropic's Ticker, IPO Date and How to Buy It (Not Ant Group)

Type "ANT stock" into a search bar right now and two very different companies show up. ANT is the ticker Anthropic has applied to use on Nasdaq for its Class A shares, and it is not trading yet. Ant

Author: MEXC Editorial Team

2026-11-06

MEXC On-Chain Daily Report: Can NYSE’s Broadridge Partnership Preserve Traditional Shareholder Rights in Tokenized Stocks?

Updated: November 3, 2026, 09:30 (UTC+8) | Author: MEXC Headlines SBI plans to invest $100 million in U.S. digital bank Erebor Starknet community backs research into a potential independent L1 Aave

Author: MEXC

2026-11-03

MEXC On-Chain Daily Report: FBI Attributes Binance Theft of Over $6 Billion to North Korea

Updated: November 2, 2026, 09:30 (UTC+8) | Author: MEXC Headlines Stablecoin supply falls to $298.5 billion, the lowest since August tBTC pauses minting and redemptions while reserves remain fully

Author: MEXC

2026-11-02

Hot Crypto Updates

XX Network (XX) Crypto Guide for Pakistan: Price Predictions in PKR 2026-2030 & Trading on MEXC

Key Takeaways ● XX Network (XX) is the first quantum-resistant and privacy-focused blockchain ecosystem ● Current price: approximately $0.0107 (≈ 4.29 PKR Pakistani Rupee as of November 2025) ● 2026

Author: MEXC Editorial Team

2025-11-18

XX Chart Reading 101: Master Candlestick Patterns

What Are Candlestick Charts in XX Trading? Candlestick charts originated in Japan during the 18th century, first used by rice traders to track market prices. These visual tools have evolved into one

Author: MEXC Editorial Team

2025-09-02

XX Strategy Showdown: DCA vs Swing Trading

Understanding XX Investment Fundamentals XX is a cryptocurrency that offers investors exposure to the privacy-focused blockchain infrastructure sector within the xx network ecosystem. Its value is

Author: MEXC Editorial Team

2025-09-02

xx network (XX) Stop Loss Mastery: Lock in Profits

Understanding the Importance of Stop Loss and Take Profit in xx network (XX) Trading Risk management is crucial in volatile xx network markets, where price swings can reach 5–20% within a single day.

Author: MEXC Editorial Team

2025-09-02