Web3 project co-founder Numa Lunah nearly lost control of his digital assets after following recommendations from artificial intelligence.

The incident revealed a new cyberattack vector in which hackers inject hidden backdoors into AI skill configuration files, allowing them to reinfect computers even after a complete operating system reinstall.

Why a system reset failed to protect crypto wallets from malware delivered through Claude

The attack began while Lunah was setting up his work environment and asked Claude for a link to download a transcription app. The AI assistant provided an address that led to a phishing clone of the program’s official website.

After the software was downloaded, an infostealer was silently installed on the…