Dust Attack
Occasionally, attackers will send tiny fractions of bitcoin, around 500 sats, to random wallets.
Occasionally, attackers will send tiny fractions of bitcoin, around 500 sats, to random wallets. If the owner of the wallet does not notice, they may inadvertently include this piece of dust in their next transaction, leaking information about which bitcoin they own to the attacker. A dust attack is like placing a tracking device on a victim, allowing the attacker to view where the victim travels, or in this case, which bitcoin the victim owns.
High quality wallets do their best to disallow users from including dust in their transactions in order to protect them from such attacks. If you notice tiny amounts of unsolicited bitcoin being sent to your wallet, you should not spend them as part of a transaction with other pieces of bitcoin. A dust attack only works if the victim spends the dust along with other UTXOs they own.
Dust Attack is a cybersecurity threat or attack vector that can target Bitcoin users, exchanges, and digital infrastructure. Onramp's glossary explains Dust Attack and other security concepts to help investors protect their Bitcoin holdings from malicious actors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dust Attack?
Dust Attack is a type of cyberattack or security vulnerability that can compromise digital assets. Understanding Dust Attack is essential for anyone holding or transacting in Bitcoin.
How can Bitcoin holders protect against Dust Attack?
Protection against Dust Attack involves using trusted custody solutions, enabling multi-factor authentication, and following security best practices. Institutional custody significantly reduces exposure to such attacks.
How does Onramp protect against Dust Attack?
Onramp's multi-institution custody model through BitGo, CoinCover, and Tetra Trust provides institutional-grade protection against threats like Dust Attack. Onramp manages approximately $250M in assets with comprehensive security measures.
