Counterfeit Ledger Nano S Plus Found With Crypto-Stealing Hardware

A Brazilian security researcher said the counterfeit Ledger device was part of a more sophisticated operation using modified hardware to siphon cryptocurrency from buyers.

Summary

A Brazilian security researcher warned that a counterfeit Ledger Nano S Plus purchased on a Chinese e-commerce platform was engineered to steal crypto assets. The researcher, known online as “Past_Computer2901,” said the fake hardware wallet was part of a sophisticated operation involving modified hardware designed to siphon cryptocurrency from unsuspecting users. The device did not pass Ledger Live genuine verification, and a teardown identified tampered hardware, firmware, WiFi and Bluetooth antennas. The warning follows a separate incident earlier this month in which more than 50 victims lost $9.5 million through a fake Ledger Live app listed on Apple’s App Store.

Terms & Concepts
  • Hardware wallet: A physical device used to store cryptocurrency private keys offline, reducing exposure to online attacks.
  • Firmware: Low-level software embedded in hardware that controls how a device operates and communicates.
  • Ledger Live: Ledger’s companion software for managing crypto assets and verifying whether a Ledger device is genuine.