A clothing store linked to Kash Patel goes dark after deploying cryptocurrency-stealing malware

A clothing store linked to FBI Director Kash Patel appeared to go out of business on Friday after onlookers warned Based Apparel was spreading wallet-draining malware.

Until the website apparently went dark, macOS visitors were prompted to install ‘ClickFix’ malware by copying and pasting a command into their system’s terminal – putting session tokens, browser data and crypto wallets at risk via the information theft tool – User He said On X.

The website was flagged as a “potential scam” for MetaMask users, who, when trying to visit the website, received a pop-up warning from the self-wallet that identified “malicious transactions resulting in stolen assets” among the potential risks.

The attack was reproduced by PCMag; but, Decryption He was unable to do so because Based Apparel now clearly says that “the store will be back online soon – bolder than ever.”

The Infostealer malware was designed to silently and secretly extract sensitive data from users’ devices, and dates back to 2006. Two months ago, the FBI discovered He said It was investigating several PC games on the Steam platform that installed malware.

It’s unclear whether Based Apparel’s apparent settlement triggered significant losses. The site typically receives an estimated 33,600 visits per month, according to ahrefs. One of its top pages displays a camouflage hoodie.

The venture is owned by Patel and Andrew Ollis, who serves on the Cash Foundation board of directors as CEO The Guardian. Visitors to the Kash Foundation are directed, through one of the nonprofit’s primary listings, to Based Apparel.

Although the nonprofit was founded by Patel, he is no longer affiliated with it in any capacity, according to the organization’s website. The disclosure also makes clear that the Kash Foundation is not connected to government agencies, including the FBI.

The FBI director, who highlighted the bureau’s increasing use of artificial intelligence to thwart bad actors, has been the subject of cryptocurrency scams before. After Iranian hackers leaked his personal email and username, a batch of coins bearing Patel’s address He follows.