![hacker-1952027_1280.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmW7kwksbCQKV4st23SboYRFeYdFNUiCBSxHQ9phy7CqEg/hacker-1952027_1280.jpg)
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According to a [blog post published by ChainAnalysis](https://blog.chainalysis.com/the-rise-of-cybercrime-on-ethereum/) approximately 10% of all Ethereum holdings generated by ICOs are now stolen or have changed owner without permission (which is gentler way of saying it).

The first one was the DAO, in 2016, which drained $74 millions out of the $150 millions subscribed and led to the creation of ETC. Since then, more than $1.6 billions (yes, billions) were raised through various ICOs, but out of this amount, again, hackers got another $150 millions.

These numbers are mind boggling and the whole situation calls for a much more balanced approach towards investing in cryptos. The gains in privacy generated by the raise of cryptocurrencies can be a double edged sword, as not only your identity is protected, but also the identity of a potential thief.  It's true that in cryptos (at least for now) the potential revenue is stellar, but if you're not taking basic security measures, the gains can be wiped out in seconds.

There are a few measures that one can take to minimize the risks, and here's an excerpt from the above article:

> Beware of inbound messages from services, try to always bookmark the services that you regularly visit and do not click on advertised google results
> Beware of direct messages in Social medias and Slack forums as companies in general communicate messages in public
> Messages from slackbots should be treated carefully as these messages can be easily triggered by an adversary
> Do a background check e.g. use the list of Ethereum scams in the [Ethereum Scam Database](https://etherscamdb.info/scams/)

I highly recommend a thorough lecture of the [entire article]((https://blog.chainalysis.com/the-rise-of-cybercrime-on-ethereum/) ), if you're serious about investing in cryptos.

10% of stolen funds is a frightening percentage.

[image source](https://pixabay.com/en/hacker-cyber-crime-security-1952027/) - Pixabay
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_I'm a serial entrepreneur, blogger and ultrarunner. You can find me mainly on my blog at [Dragos Roua](http://dragosroua.com) where I write about productivity, business, relationships and running. Here on Steemit you may stay updated by following me @dragosroua._
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<center>_You can also vote for me as witness here:
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_If you're new to Steemit, you may find these articles relevant (that's also part of my witness activity to support new members of the platform)_:
* [Rewards: Were Does The Money Come From?](https://steemit.com/steemit/@dragosroua/steemit-newbie-faq-rewards-were-does-the-money-come-from)
* [Netiquette: How To Avoid Being A Steem Douche?](https://steemit.com/steem/@dragosroua/steemit-newbie-faq-netiquette-how-to-avoid-being-a-steem-douche)
* [Witnesses: What Are They And Why Should You Care?](https://steemit.com/steemit/@dragosroua/steemit-newbie-faq-witnesses-what-are-they-and-why-should-you-care)
* [How Can I Mine Steem And What CPU / GPU Power Do I Need For That?](https://steemit.com/steemit/@dragosroua/steemit-newbie-faq-how-can-i-mine-steem-and-what-cpu-gpu-power-do-i-need-for-that)