A dusting attack is a tactic used by malicious actors to deanonymize cryptocurrency users by sending tiny amounts of a specific cryptocurrency to their wallets. These small amounts are referred to as “dust” and are usually below the regular transaction fee, making it difficult for the user to spend or transfer them. The main purpose of a dusting attack is to track and monitor the activity of a user’s wallet by linking multiple addresses together.
By sending dust amounts to multiple addresses, attackers can analyze the blockchain and identify connections between different wallets. This can lead to the potential compromise of a user’s privacy, as the attacker can then use this information for targeted phishing attacks or other malicious activities.
To protect against dusting attacks, cryptocurrency users should be cautious when receiving small and unexpected amounts in their wallets, and they should avoid consolidating or spending dust transactions. Additionally, using privacy-focused wallets and mixing services can help mitigate the risk of deanonymization through dusting attacks.
