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/Cryptocurrency Knowledge/Security Knowledge/How To Prev...s Hijacking

How To Prevent Loss of Funds Caused by Address Hijacking

Jul 16, 2025MEXC
0m
XRP
XRP$1.4012+1.01%
SUI
SUI$0.7113-1.68%
Moonn Token
MODA$0.626-24.57%

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
XRP Logo
XRP Price(XRP)
$1.401
$1.401$1.401
-0.17%
USD
XRP (XRP) Live Price Chart

Popular Articles

View More
MEXC vs Bitrue 2026: Is Bitrue Charging You 0.280% on the Coin It Is Famous For?

MEXC vs Bitrue 2026: Is Bitrue Charging You 0.280% on the Coin It Is Famous For?

MEXC is our pick for XRP traders here: on 4 September 2026, XRP/USDT spot and XRPUSDT perpetuals both carried MEXC's 0 Fees tag at 0.0000% on both sides. Bitrue charges a published rate on the same

Best Bitrue Alternatives in 2026: 7 Exchanges Compared on XRP Fees, Country Access and Proof of Reserves

Best Bitrue Alternatives in 2026: 7 Exchanges Compared on XRP Fees, Country Access and Proof of Reserves

The strongest Bitrue alternative for most XRP traders in this comparison is MEXC, because it applies no per-asset surcharge: spot trades cost 0.0000% maker and 0.0500% taker across the board, while

Why Is XRP Going Up? XRP Posts Its Best Weekly Rally Since 2024

Why Is XRP Going Up? XRP Posts Its Best Weekly Rally Since 2024

Summary XRP has become one of the strongest-performing major cryptocurrencies in the latest market rebound. CoinDesk reported on August 23 that XRP had surged around 51% from Monday to approximately

Why Is XRP Going Up? Ripple’s RLUSD Credit Fund Adds a New Institutional Catalyst

Why Is XRP Going Up? Ripple’s RLUSD Credit Fund Adds a New Institutional Catalyst

Summary XRP has staged one of its strongest rallies in months while Ripple is expanding the institutional use cases around Ripple USD (RLUSD). A new institutional credit initiative involving Ripple,

Hot Crypto Updates

View More
XRP Ledger 3.3.0 Is Here: What Do Private Transfers Mean for XRP?

XRP Ledger 3.3.0 Is Here: What Do Private Transfers Mean for XRP?

XRP Ledger released xrpld version 3.3.0 on August 6, 2026, introducing five new amendments. The feature attracting the most attention is ConfidentialTransfer, a mechanism designed to conceal

Is Altcoin Season Back? XRP, HYPE, ZEC and LINK Surge More Than 30%

Is Altcoin Season Back? XRP, HYPE, ZEC and LINK Surge More Than 30%

Overview Following Bitcoin entering a consolidation phase near record highs, liquidity across the digital asset ecosystem is undergoing a pronounced structural rotation. Quantitative market tracking

Is Altcoin Season Back? ETH, SOL, XRP and HYPE Rally as Bitcoin Nears $70,000

Is Altcoin Season Back? ETH, SOL, XRP and HYPE Rally as Bitcoin Nears $70,000

Overview As benchmark digital asset Bitcoin (BTC) challenges the psychological 70,000 dollar threshold, the underlying price structure across the cryptocurrency market is undergoing a decisive shift.

CLARITY Act Odds Fade Toward 50/50: What the Stalled Crypto Bill Means for XRP

CLARITY Act Odds Fade Toward 50/50: What the Stalled Crypto Bill Means for XRP

The single biggest catalyst hanging over XRP, the CLARITY Act, is looking less certain by the week. Galaxy Research just cut its odds of the US crypto market-structure bill passing in 2026 to 50%,

Trending News

View More
Circle Arc Mainnet Launches September 16 With USDC at Its Core

Circle Arc Mainnet Launches September 16 With USDC at Its Core

Circle’s Arc mainnet launches September 16, bringing USDC-based fees and fast settlement to payments, stablecoin FX and tokenized assets.

BIKETYSON Coin Surges as Solana Traders Chase a New Absurd Meme

BIKETYSON Coin Surges as Solana Traders Chase a New Absurd Meme

BIKETYSON coin has surged on Solana as trading activity and meme attention accelerate. Here is what is driving the rally and where risks remain.

Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill: What H.R. 8957 Means Before the Committee Vote

Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill: What H.R. 8957 Means Before the Committee Vote

The U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is moving from an executive-policy framework toward a more formal legislative structure. H.R. 8957, the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026, is scheduled for

What Is DIGY11? How the Bitcoin-Backed Digital Credit ETF Differs From a Spot Bitcoin ETF

What Is DIGY11? How the Bitcoin-Backed Digital Credit ETF Differs From a Spot Bitcoin ETF

DIGY11 introduces a different way for investors to gain exposure to the expanding Bitcoin corporate-finance ecosystem. Developed around securities issued by Bitcoin treasury companies, the ETF is desi

Related Articles

View More
Why MEXC is the Safest Choice for Traders

Why MEXC is the Safest Choice for Traders

Due to the potential for enormous profits, weak regulation, and anonymity, the cryptocurrency market is rife with scams. Crypto users should remain vigilant, carefully assess investment projects, avoi

MEXC Account Frozen? Withdrawal Limits & How to Fix Restricted Account Issues

MEXC Account Frozen? Withdrawal Limits & How to Fix Restricted Account Issues

Account freezing refers to the temporary blocking or restriction of a user's cryptocurrency trading account, preventing them from making transactions or withdrawing funds. The duration of a cryptocurr

MEXC Restricted Countries: Complete List of Prohibited & Limited Regions

MEXC Restricted Countries: Complete List of Prohibited & Limited Regions

MEXC is committed to providing users with a convenient, efficient, and secure trading platform, empowering crypto enthusiasts worldwide to explore the digital asset ecosystem. We uphold the highest st

How to Identify SMS Phishing

How to Identify SMS Phishing

SMS Phishing are fraudulent activities that use SMS (Short Message Service) as a medium to steal users' sensitive information (such as wallet private keys, login credentials) or deceive them into givi

Sign Up on MEXC
Sign Up & Receive Up to 10,000 USDT Bonus
Is Your Stablecoin Truly Safe?
Is Your Stablecoin Truly Safe?Is Your Stablecoin Truly Safe?
Know the risks of USDT, USDC, OpenUSD & USD1