A single wallet approval, made during a hotel stay, was enough to wipe nearly $5,000 from a crypto user’s hot wallet. No phishing links. No fake websites. Just public WiFi, a casual phone call, and one moment of misplaced trust.
The incident, later analyzed by blockchain security firm Hacken, highlights a growing threat facing crypto users: sophisticated approval abuse attacks that exploit public networks and human behavior rather than private key theft.
A Routine Hotel Stay Turns Risky
The victim, a crypto user known as The Smart Ape, spent several days working from a hotel while connected to an open WiFi network with no password. He described his activity as routine: browsing Discord, checking X, and monitoring wallet balances. Nothing appeared suspicious at the time.
What he didn’t realize is that open WiFi networks place every connected device into a shared local environment. This makes it far easier for attackers to observe traffic, manipulate connections, or quietly inject malicious code without triggering alarms.
According to Hacken’s cybersecurity compliance lead Dmytro Yasmanovych, attackers on unsecured networks can use techniques such as ARP spoofing, DNS manipulation, or rogue access points to tamper with otherwise legitimate websites. Even trusted DeFi platforms can become dangerous if the execution environment itself is compromised.
When Talking Crypto Attracts Attention
The attack escalated after the user took a phone call in the hotel lobby and openly discussed his crypto activity. That single conversation likely confirmed to the attacker that the target was worth pursuing and helped narrow down which wallets and blockchains he was using.
The wallet involved was Phantom on Solana, neither of which were compromised at the protocol or provider level. Instead, the attacker relied on observation and timing.
Security experts have long warned about this kind of exposure. Well-known Bitcoin engineer and security advocate Jameson Lopp has repeatedly stressed that publicly discussing crypto holdings is one of the biggest personal security risks in the space.
As Yasmanovych put it, cyber attacks rarely begin with code alone. They often start with real-world reconnaissance.
The Approval That Changed Everything
The actual loss occurred when the user approved what appeared to be a standard wallet request while interacting with a legitimate DeFi interface. Behind the scenes, injected malicious code altered the request, prompting an approval rather than an immediate token transfer.
This is a classic approval abuse attack. Instead of stealing funds instantly, the attacker gains ongoing permission to move assets later. That delay is intentional and makes the attack harder to detect.
Days after the approval, once the user had already left the hotel, the attacker acted. The wallet was drained of SOL and other tokens, and NFTs were transferred to a separate address. By then, the permissions were already in place and irreversible.
Why Hot Wallets Are Especially Vulnerable
The compromised wallet was a secondary hot wallet, which limited the overall damage. Still, the incident demonstrates how little is required to lose funds in today’s crypto environment. One unsafe network, one overheard conversation, and one unchecked approval can be enough.
Hot wallets connected to browsers are particularly exposed because they rely heavily on user interaction and visual cues. When attackers manipulate those cues, even experienced users can be tricked into signing something they don’t fully understand.
How to Protect Your Crypto While Traveling
Hacken recommends treating all public WiFi networks as hostile environments. Wallet interactions should never be performed on open hotel or café networks. A personal mobile hotspot or a trusted VPN significantly reduces exposure.
It’s equally important to review and revoke onchain approvals regularly, segment funds across multiple wallets, and keep devices fully updated with minimal browser extensions installed. Physical operational security matters too. Avoid discussing crypto holdings, wallet types, or balances in public spaces.
This incident wasn’t caused by a single mistake, but by a chain of small, common behaviors that many crypto users still consider harmless. As approval-based attacks become more common, awareness and discipline may be the most effective security tools available.
