Forta’s Blog

Updates, case studies, and announcements from Forta.

Mar. 15, 2024 𐤟 by Forta Network

Newsletter #53

This week in Forta! Forta’s AI Detected WooTrade Hack in Advance of Exploitation ($4.8M). Forta’s Dune Dashboard is trending! Forta was at EthDenver 2024 discussing how AI will change web3 security! Hacken and Forta team up to defend protocols.

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Newsletter #53

Mar. 15, 2024𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Forta’s AI Detected WooTrade Hack in Advance of Exploitation ($4.8M). Forta’s Dune Dashboard is trending! Forta was at EthDenver 2024 discussing how AI will change web3 security! Hacken and Forta team up to defend protocols.

Newsletter #53

Mar. 15, 2024𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Forta’s AI Detected WooTrade Hack in Advance of Exploitation ($4.8M). Forta’s Dune Dashboard is trending! Forta was at EthDenver 2024 discussing how AI will change web3 security! Hacken and Forta team up to defend protocols.

WooTrade Hack Detected in Advance by Forta ($4.8M)

Mar. 14, 2024𐤟by Forta

On March 5th, 2023, the DeFi world witnessed a sophisticated attack on WOOFi Swap on the Arbitrum network, leveraging the platform's synthetic proactive market making (sPMM) algorithm. Despite the unfortunate loss, this incident spotlighted the critical role of real-time monitoring and automated incident response, as demonstrated by Forta's coverage of the attack.

Stopping Hacks Before They Happen with Hacken and Forta

Mar. 6, 2024𐤟by Forta

In 2023, the cryptocurrency sector faced a dire situation with $1.9 billion lost to cyber-attacks, a 14% increase from the previous year, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced security measures. Thankfully, the integration of Forta's Attack Detector into Hacken Extractor marks a significant advancement in addressing this need, helping bridge the gap in post-deployment security for smart contracts.

Newsletter #52

Mar. 1, 2024𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Hacken and Forta team up to defend protocols. Forta is at EthDenver 2024! Forta powers Failsafe to protect web3 users. Forta’s precompile proposal could change on-chain security forever.

Stopping Scams Before They Happen with FailSafe and Forta

Feb. 22, 2024𐤟by Forta

Forta is the largest network of security intel in Web3. The decentralized Forta Network leverages machine learning and a community of security researchers to detect exploits, scams and other threats.    In the dynamic world of blockchain technology, where the stakes for security are ever-increasing, FailSafe is working with Forta to access web3’s best threat intelligence. […]

Newsletter #51

Feb. 15, 2024𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Forta’s precompile proposal could change on-chain security forever. The Attack Detector detects THREE hacks before exploitation. Forta powers Failsafe to protect web3 users. Research on attack funding patterns unearths interesting attacker behaviors.

Transaction Screening & Threat Oracles: A New Approach to Exploit Prevention

Feb. 13, 2024𐤟by Forta

This blog dives into transaction screening as a promising approach to prevent smart contract exploits, addresses some common criticisms, and providing a first look at a concept the Forta Foundation team is calling “Threat Oracles”, an on-chain blocklist DeFi protocols can leverage to screen for and block malicious activity. 

Why Forta is Proposing RIP-7614

Feb. 8, 2024𐤟by Forta

RIP-7614 proposes a new precompile for L2s giving smart contracts more visibility into addresses in the transaction call stack. This additional visibility will enable DeFi protocols to perform robust transaction screening, and most importantly… block exploits. 

Newsletter #50

Feb. 2, 2024𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta… things are a little different! To celebrate the 50th edition of the Forta Newsletter, this issue will highlight some of the most popular and innovative articles published on the Forta blog.

Newsletter #49

Jan. 18, 2024𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Forta’s 2024 Agenda: New year, new challenges. Forta alert could have saved the hack that destroyed Wise Finance. The Sybil Defender, Forta’s latest Premium API offering. Implement Forta-powered automated incident response in three easy steps!

Sybil Defender: Tackling Identity Challenges via Forta’s Latest Premium API Feed

Jan. 18, 2024𐤟by Forta

Sybil attacks represent a persistent and all too often overlooked threat in the crypto ecosystem. To combat this threat, Frwd Labs has recently launched Sybl Defender, the latest Forta Premium API Feed. 

Newsletter #48

Jan. 4, 2024𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Telcoin’s multi-million dollar exploit detected in advance by Forta. Forta’s 2023 in review. 24/7 automated incident response is here. Alterscope (formerly Solity) is partnering with Forta to protect their users.

Preventing Smart Contract Exploits with Automatic Pausing

Jan. 4, 2024𐤟by Forta

Here, the idea of automated incident response is explored in the context of pause functionality, which if implemented in a contract plays a crucial role in protecting funds. Forta’s Attack Detector was built to be easily implemented into smart contract management platforms like OpenZeppelin’s Defender platform that can perform actions based on threat intelligence.

Forta’s 2023: A Year in Review

Dec. 21, 2023𐤟by Forta

As another year comes to a close, it’s always useful to reflect on the progress over the last 12 months. For the Forta Community, 2023 was a full year of research, product development, community collaboration, growth, and learnings. Here’s a short recap of the last year in the Forta Network.

Newsletter #47

Dec. 15, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Can AI-based threat monitoring save Web3? Another day, another six figure scam loss. Keeping in mind quality control and effectiveness in threat prevention.

Quality Control and Effectiveness in Threat Prevention

Dec. 14, 2023𐤟by Forta

In the world of threat detection and prevention, particularly in Web3, the accuracy and reliability of security solutions are paramount. A false positive from Forta’s Attack Detector, for instance, could have significant repercussions, including revenue loss, increased user friction, and a decline in trust towards the solution. This is especially critical for protocols that might pause operations due to an incorrect alert.

How AI based Threat Detection Can Save Web3

Dec. 11, 2023𐤟by Forta

In 2022 alone, the staggering loss of $3.8 billion due to crypto hacks highlights the drastic state of security within this space. The situation continued in 2023, with $1.89 billion lost in 297 incidents, equating to an alarming $289,000 vanishing every hour, underlining the critical need for higher security standards. Without a working security system in place to catch the bad guys, how do we expect to onboard the next hundreds of millions of users and institutions who are risk averse?

Newsletter #46

Nov. 30, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! The $1.27M BlackHoleToken hack was (also) preventable. Imagine losing $1.23M on a preventable scam (previously detected by Forta). How to unleash the power of Forta threat intelligence. Forta community charges ahead with bounties and development. 

Unleashing the Power of Forta Threat Intelligence

Nov. 17, 2023𐤟by Forta

Forta is a powerful Web3 protocol that generates actionable and insightful threat intelligence, but how can you access that power to answer questions about the blockchain landscape? Several feeds exist on the network that produce lists of indicators (EOAs, contracts, URLs, social media account names) of particular attacks (Scam Detector Feed, Spam Detector Feed, Token Sniffer Rug Pull Feed, Attack Detector Feed)

Newsletter #45

Nov. 17, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Forta launches the Attack Detector 2.0 alongside BlockSec and Nethermind. Taking a closer look at October’s scam landscape. Scam Vendors pose a unique threat to Web3. What’s the deal with rake tokens?

Forta releases Attack Detector 2.0 with BlockSec and Nethermind

Nov. 15, 2023𐤟by Forta

After six months of amazing work from the Forta Foundation and members of the Forta community, the Attack Detector 2.0 is officially launching. Attack Detector 2.0 adds two new core development teams, improved performance, and integrations with complimentary security tools. 

October Scam Landscape in Review

Nov. 9, 2023𐤟by Forta

A silent killer of Web3 adoption, scams steal millions from users each month, and billions per year. But putting a stop to scams is now possible thanks to threat intelligence offerings like Forta’s Scam Detector.

What’s the Deal with Rake Tokens?

Nov. 7, 2023𐤟by Forta

You might have heard the term “rake token” floating around in Web3 security circles, but what exactly does it mean? Rake tokens are defined as a token that is aiming to exploit market conditions for its malicious creator by crafting tokens with high fees on transfers and trades, these actors set a snare for the unwary.

Newsletter #44

Nov. 2, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Blowfish begins using Forta to power wallet security offering. The Web3 security community is ramping up research under Forta bounties. How to delete token spam with the Forta community’s newest solution, the Spam Detector. Cut through the noise to make sense of alert data. 

Making Sense of Alert Noise

Oct. 26, 2023𐤟by Forta

With the Attack Detector churning out hundreds of alerts monthly, discerning genuine threats from false positives becomes imperative. Will relying on Attack Detector alerts inadvertently cause undue disruptions to your protocol operations? Let's delve deeper.

Deleting Token Spam with Forta

Oct. 24, 2023𐤟by Forta

Scam token deception may be at an end with the introduction of Forta’s Spam Detector, a novel detection implementation created by Forta community member Artem Kovalchuk. This tool is engineered to address the prevalent issue of spam tokens on EVM blockchains, enhancing security and promoting a safer user environment.

Newsletter #43

Oct. 19, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Diversity of Data as a Strength: Forta’s Unique Method of On-Chain Threat Detection. $10k+ in FORT up for grabs via Forta bounties. Learn how Zettablock helps enable Forta’s state-of-the-art ML detection. Address poisoning scams are plaguing Web3, and Forta is detecting them.

Blowfish Leverages Forta to Provide Unique Threat Intel to Wallets 

Oct. 19, 2023𐤟by Forta

In an industry where securing digital assets is paramount, Blowfish takes a significant stride by utilizing Forta threat intelligence to augment their Web3 security platform. Blowfish is leveraging Forta’s Scam Detector to protect wallet users from scams, phishing, rug pulls, address poisoning, and other attacks that cost users millions of dollars.

Diversity of Data as a Strength

Oct. 12, 2023𐤟by Forta

Diversity in security isn't just a lofty ideal, it's a tested and proven method for robust threat detection. A recent data-driven exploration of the Forta Network with this in mind has revealed intriguing results. When compared against centralized approaches, Forta's diverse threat detection approach achieved a superior F1 score of 0.57, with its Snorkel-based weak labeling model outshining centralized threat detection approaches.

Flipping the Script: Making Evasion Techniques Work for Defenders

Oct. 4, 2023𐤟by Forta

The open-source nature of Web3 is both a boon and a curse. Sure, blockchains offer full transparency, with verifiable contracts and transaction visibility. This openness allows users, for instance, to scrutinize every airdropped token, review the distribution of holders, and generally determine whether a contract is trustworthy. Sounds like a scammer's worst nightmare, right?

An In-Depth Exploration of the Recently Discovered “Sleepdrop” Scam

Sep. 28, 2023𐤟by Forta

The Forta Network and Blockfence recently discovered a new type of sophisticated scam flow triggered by NFT sleepdrops. There are already over 500K addresses who received the drop, and over 20K confirmed victims. The verified amount of stolen funds crossed $11.5M, however, looking at the broader money flows associated with scammer contracts, could be as much as $32M in stolen assets. The attackers did an outstanding job leaving almost no traces behind, however it was discovered that over 100 different smart contracts involved in this scam that can be tied together based on deployment patterns. 

Encrypting Forta Bots with Secure Enclaves

Sep. 27, 2023𐤟by Forta

In this blog post, we are exploring how to use secure enclaves for bot execution purposes. In the past, the Forta Foundation has advised against using sensitive information in detection bot logic. However, this approach might not fully address users' needs, which is why we're exploring confidential computing as an alternative.

Newsletter #41

Sep. 22, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Forta’s MetaMask Snap enables accessible transaction screening for all. Threat intelligence generated by Forta’s Scam Detector is now ready for your API calls. Forta instantly flags Vitalik and Balancer hackers’ addresses in the most high profile scams of the year. Proof of Quality: How to ensure your Premium Feed is up to snuff. Tracking the Inferno Drainer, one of the biggest threats to Web3.

Proof of Quality

Sep. 21, 2023𐤟by Forta

While it’s easy to get swayed by buzzwords and high-level statistics, consumers need a transparent and objective way to evaluate the quality of security solutions. The proposed ‘proof-of-quality’ is to provide that clarity in the Web3 space.

Newsletter #40

Sep. 7, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! True incident response enabled by Forta integration in OpenZeppelin’s Defender 2.0. Solidus Labs launches Premium Feed on Forta. If movie plot threats aren’t real, what should we be watching out for? Balancer hack proves the bad guys are out there, but they are now under watch.

Solidus Labs Launches Scam Token Detection Service on the Forta Network

Sep. 6, 2023𐤟by Forta

Solidus Labs, the crypto-native market integrity and risk monitoring platform, has launched their Token Sniffer Rug Pull Detector on the Forta Network.  

Don’t Fall For Movie Plot Threats

Aug. 31, 2023𐤟by Forta

In the world of security, we often fall prey to what Bruce Schneier, a titan in the world of Web2 security, coined the term 'movie-plot threats'. These are dramatic, often sensationalized threats we imagine based on our past experiences or what we see in movies and popular media, like a plane dispersing anthrax or drones exploding in a packed stadium.

Newsletter #39

Aug. 24, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Develop, Innovate, and Earn: Premium Feed Opportunities on the Forta Network! Forta’s Scam Detector gets official launch with BlockSec and Nethermind. Forta’s Free Trial is still live! Community’s Unusual Gas Token Mint Detection Bot integrated into Forta’s Scam Detector.

Develop, Innovate, Earn: Premium Feed Opportunities on Forta Network

Aug. 24, 2023𐤟by Forta

The Forta Network is opening the door to revenue sharing with developers and contributors. By integrating a fee system, developers now have a direct avenue to profit from their contributions to the Network. Developers can now easily create Premium Feeds, elevated and quality controlled detection bots (not available in Forta’s General Plan), and receive 100% of the recurring revenue. Simply put: create a feed that the market needs, and you stand to earn from it.

Web3’s First “Community Developed” Threat Intelligence Service Launches

Aug. 15, 2023𐤟by Forta

The Forta Foundation is excited to announce the launch of the Scam Detector, a new data feed maintained by the Forta community, including BlockSec and Nethermind, that provides real-time intelligence about Web3 scammers. 

Newsletter #38

Aug. 10, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Fees on Forta are LIVE! The first three Premium Feeds are now online. Patrick Collins tackles bot development in his latest video. Exploring the anatomy of a Web3 scam.

Meet the Scam Detector: Forta’s Answer to Web3 Fraud

Aug. 8, 2023𐤟by Forta

In conjunction with Forta turning on network fees, the Forta Foundation launched an updated version of the Scam Detector, an API-based data feed that provides intelligence about a variety of Web3 scams and the entities involved. The new version of the Scam Detector incorporates malicious URL data, expanded threat coverage, and contributions from leading development teams like BlockSec and Nethermind. Powered by machine learning and a collective of Forta contributors, the Scam Detector provides threat intelligence at each stage of a scam.

Anatomy of a Web3 Scam

Aug. 1, 2023𐤟by Forta

To build robust defensive measures, it's crucial to understand the typical stages of these scams. Broadly speaking, a scam unfolds in three phases: the Lure, the Hook, and the Catch.

Newsletter #37

Jul. 27, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Introducing fees, the next phase of the Forta Network. The community puts forward two Premium Feeds for evaluation. Forta flagged the scammer that hacked Uniswap’s founder Twitter account, two months before it happened. Forta’s community bounties continue to produce innovative threat intelligence.

Introducing Fees – The Next Phase of the Forta Network

Jul. 26, 2023𐤟by Forta

In a few weeks, the Forta Network will introduce fees, requiring users to pay for the bots they consume, and rewarding the bot developers. This is a major milestone for the Forta Network and community, as developer incentives represent a necessary component of a sustainable and decentralized Forta Network. This post will unpack the what, why and how of fees, and what it means for bot developers and users.

Attack Deep Dive: NFT Wash Trading

Jul. 18, 2023𐤟by Forta

Wash trading is when the buyer and seller in a transaction are the same person or two people colluding. It's banned in conventional financial markets because it misleads the rest of the market about the true level of demand, distorts prices and entices others to trade on fake information.

Newsletter #36

Jul. 14, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! A new machine learning model detects phishing scams with 88% precision. Team up with OpenAI ’s Code Interpreter to transform into your personal Forta data analyst. Earn $4,500 in FORT on Forta’s Contract Positive Reputation Bounty. With the passing of FP-6, fees and rewards for developers on Forta are imminent. How […]

Introducing a Cutting-Edge ML-Powered Detection Bot for Phishing Scams

Jul. 12, 2023𐤟by Forta

The Forta Network is once again pushing the boundaries of blockchain security by unveiling its latest innovation: a groundbreaking, AI-driven detection bot designed to detect phishing scams with remarkable precision. With phishing scams wiping out billions of user funds, the introduction of an advanced machine learning detection model represents a significant step forward in combating these security threats.

How to Blow Up a Scammer’s Business Model

Jul. 6, 2023𐤟by Forta

However, with growing visibility and accessibility, NFT marketplaces have unwittingly attracted an unwanted element – scammers. They have weaponized the protocols to trick users into selling their NFTs for Weis on the Ether. Their scheme involves duping users into signing offers to sell their NFTs at zero cost or well below the floor price, with the scammers then executing the sale on their unsuspecting victims' behalf.

Forta Newsletter #35

Jun. 30, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Investigating Sleepdrops, the new scam discovered by the Forta Community. Diving deep into hard rug pulls, one of crypto’s oldest and most insidious scams. Coindesk explores the thousands of scams detected by Forta. Forta works with Bware and QuickNode to better equip scan node runners.

Attack Deep Dive: Hard RugPull

Jun. 29, 2023𐤟by Forta

As the crypto market continues to soar, it has inadvertently attracted a certain breed of opportunists looking for a quick fortune. While the methods employed by these cyber fraudsters aren't entirely novel (with Ponzi schemes laying the groundwork) the prevalence of the rugpull strategy is increasingly making its presence felt in the Web3 ecosystem.

Forta Works with QuickNode to Better Monitor and Protect All Assets in Web3

Jun. 26, 2023𐤟by Forta

With a mutual commitment to securing and monitoring assets within the Web3 space, Forta and QuickNode are collaborating to offer developers an easy and secure way to access Forta scan nodes.

Unmasking Sleepdropping: A New On-Chain Scam Uncovered by the Forta Community

Jun. 21, 2023𐤟by Forta

The Forta Network has identified a novel form of scamming activity in the blockchain space, known as 'Sleepdropping'. Just as the world of blockchain evolves, so do the tactics employed by those who seek to exploit it for nefarious gains. Sleepdropping is a prime example of this evolution.

Forta Newsletter #34

Jun. 16, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Forta to Power Solidus Labs’ Anti-Fraud Solutions. The Forta community uncovers a new type of scam: Sleepdrops. Scam Detector findings offer a window into the threat landscape. Forta’s Attack simulation bot gets a major update from the community.

Solidus Labs Taps the Forta Network to Enhance Fraud Protections for DeFi Investors

Jun. 15, 2023𐤟by Forta

Forta is a real-time detection network for security monitoring of blockchain activity. The decentralized Forta Network scans all transactions and block-by-block state changes, leveraging machine learning to detect threats and anomalies on DeFi, NFTs, bridges, governance and other Web3 systems. When an issue is detected, alerts are sent to subscribers of potential risks, which enables […]

Forta Newsletter #33

Jun. 2, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Forta selected by Metamask to build security Snap for the platform. A Forta deep dive shows soft rug pull scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Forta’s Scam Detector's progress continues with the aim to detect all end-user attacks. Forta and Eleos Labs join forces to elevate Web3 security.

Attack Deep Dive: Soft Rug Pull

May. 30, 2023𐤟by Forta

Soft rug pulls are a common type of scam in the cryptocurrency space. Unlike hard rug pulls, which involve malicious code or exploits, soft rug pulls are solely social engineering attacks.

Forta and Eleos Labs Join Forces to End Theft of Digital Assets

May. 23, 2023𐤟by Forta

Forta is a real-time detection network for security monitoring of blockchain activity. The decentralized Forta Network scans all transactions and block-by-block state changes, leveraging machine learning to detect threats and anomalies on DeFi, NFTs, bridges, governance and other Web3 systems. When an issue is detected, alerts are sent to subscribers of potential risks, which enables […]

Forta Newsletter #32

May. 19, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! The Forta community overwhelmingly votes to introduce fees to the network. Forta’s Attack Detector detected 80% of all publicly disclosed hacks in April. Discovering scam networks with new Forta powered deep learning models. Fortifying ZenGo’s Wallet with Forta’s Scam Detector.

ZenGo Case Study

May. 18, 2023𐤟by Forta

Forta is a real-time detection network for security monitoring of blockchain activity. The decentralized Forta Network scans all transactions and block-by-block state changes, leveraging machine learning to detect threats and anomalies on DeFi, NFTs, bridges, governance and other Web3 systems. When an issue is detected, alerts are sent to subscribers of potential risks, which enables […]

Discovering Scammer Networks with Machine Learning

May. 16, 2023𐤟by Forta

The scammer label propagation bot runs based on two techniques: Graph neural networks, a type of deep learning models that use the additional information that can be found in graphs to improve its predictions capabilities; and semi-supervised learning, a type of machine learning used when each training observation does not necessarily have a label.

Forta Newsletter #31

May. 5, 2023𐤟by Forta

This week in Forta! Fees on Forta come one step closer with the introduction of FP-5. The attack simulation bot can also detect hacks before exploitation. Integrate your logic into Forta’s Attack and Scam Detectors. How Forta would have prevented a million dollar scam with a single alert.

Community Guidelines for Threat Intelligence Feeds

May. 5, 2023𐤟by Forta

In the last six months, Forta’s community of developers and security researchers have collaborated on the development of some of the first Web3-focused threat intel feeds: the Scam Detector and the Attack Detector. 

Detecting a $197 Million Hack Before Exploitation: Euler Finance Hack Retrospective

Apr. 6, 2023𐤟by Forta

Forta’s monitoring was effective in detecting the largest attack of 2023 in advance, before $197 million were drained. Despite Euler Finance taking all the necessary precautions, including six audits and a bug bounty program, the protocol was still vulnerable to attacks, which reinforces the need for real-time threat detection. This blog will describe how Forta detected and alerted of this attack before exploitation. 

Forta and Staging Labs Collaborate to Elevate Web3 Security via Saferoot

Mar. 23, 2023𐤟by Forta

Saferoot is an opt-in security solution that prevents mistakes, hacks, and scams by putting users in control of their Web3 experience, powered by Forta.

FORT Delegated Staking Goes Live

Feb. 27, 2023𐤟by Forta

Today, one of the FORT token’s primary utility use cases is now available for all to use. Delegated staking, as approved in FP-4

Deep Learning with Forta

Feb. 9, 2023𐤟by Forta

Machine learning is becoming a crucial tool in any defender’s tool box. Over the last year, Forta has rolled out support for a broad range of machine learning techniques. Numerous bots deployed on the Network today leverage machine learning to assess blocks and transactions for malicious activity in real-time

Testing and Debugging Detection Bots

Jan. 26, 2023𐤟by Forta

Detection bots and scan nodes are core to the functionality of the Forta Network. Scan nodes forward transactions, blocks, and alerts to community developed detection bots containing logic to identify malicious behavior on-chain in real time.

BlockSec and Forta Work to Secure Web3 Beyond Audits

Jan. 20, 2023𐤟by Forta

The Forta community just got a little bigger as BlockSec is now actively working with the Forta Foundation to improve threat detection and create safeguards for end users. BlockSec is a team dedicated to building blockchain security infrastructure founded by top-notch security researchers and experienced experts from both academia and industry.

The Future of Threat Prevention in Web3

Jan. 17, 2023𐤟by Forta

Forta is the standard for real-time detection networks for security & operational monitoring of blockchain activity. As a decentralized monitoring network, Forta detects threats and anomalies on DeFi, NFT, governance, bridges and other Web3 systems in real-time. Funds lost in smart contract exploits in 2020: $215MFunds lost in smart contract exploits in 2021: $1.3BFunds lost […]

Lego Bots: Modular Threat Detection with Forta

Jan. 10, 2023𐤟by Forta

The Forta Network was recently upgraded to allow bot developers to handle alerts/findings in a modular fashion. This functionality allows bots to subscribe and handle alerts other bots emit, allowing a plethora of new detection opportunities.

Top Audit Firms Highlight Real-Time Monitoring

Jan. 4, 2023𐤟by Forta

In 2022, the Forta Foundation awarded grants to ChainSecurity, MixBytes and OpenZeppelin for featuring security monitoring recommendations in written audit reports. 

Investing in Applied Academic Threat Research

Jan. 3, 2023𐤟by Forta

The Forta Foundation is now engaging with two leading research institutions, the University of California Santa Barbra (UCSB) and Ohio State University (OSU) to further state of the art applied threat research at the academic level.

Forta’s 2022 Retrospective

Dec. 29, 2022𐤟by Forta

2022 has been an unpredictable ride for everyone, but Web3’s fragility to attacks hasn’t changed. Billions of dollars were hacked once again, and the need to improve security standards remains urgent.

A Case for On-Chain Zero Trust

Dec. 20, 2022𐤟by Forta

Zero Trust, or the idea of a positive reputation system, has the potential to revolutionize the world of on-chain security. The current goal of security systems is to identify malicious activity. This approach works well when malicious activity can be identified prior to actions that incur damages (e.g. stealing digital assets). But by implementing such a zero trust system inside of protocols, many of the attacks currently plaguing the ecosystem would be depreciated.

How Forta’s Predictive ML Models Detect Attacks Before Exploitation

Dec. 6, 2022𐤟by Forta

Recently, I created a ML based Forta detection bot that began to successfully detect incoming hacks since launching in early October 2022. Using Forta’s constant scanning of 7 different blockchains, the model was able to detect over 4 recent hacks worth $23.5M by mid November 2022, in real-time, before they occurred. 

The Past, Present, and Future of Monitoring

Nov. 23, 2022𐤟by Forta

Monitoring solutions have never been as important as they are today. In both Web2 and Web3, security teams see a barrage of threats never seen before. In Web3, some of the biggest heists ever undertaken are occurring with disturbing frequency and transparency. The history of monitoring spans a surprisingly long period, dating back to the early days of the internet. This blog explores how we got to the monitoring paradigm in which Forta sits and what the road ahead looks like for protecting end users and protocols. 

Attack Simulation with Forta

Nov. 16, 2022𐤟by Forta

In this blog, Soptq and Kovart describe their bots developed as part of a recent Forta contest aimed at identifying attacks with high precision before digital assets are stolen from a protocol. The intent of this blog is to expand the bot developer’s community toolbox to create more valuable Forta detection bots that help to secure Web3.

ZenGo and Forta Add In-Wallet Monitoring to Protect End Users 

Nov. 2, 2022𐤟by Forta

By integrating natively with ZenGo, a wallet already known for its advanced security features, Forta’s monitoring safeguards now can protect end users. Forta works with wallet providers like ZenGo by combining their data sources with Forta’s on-chain data sources and analytics to surface additional and higher confidence alerts such as scam, phishing, sleep minting (NFT), and token impersonation detection.

Luabase Integrates with the Forta Network

Nov. 1, 2022𐤟by Forta

Blockchain analysis is not a simple business. Thankfully, Luabase and Forta provide the community with the data that one needs to make sense of blockchain activity and threat relevant information. Answering simple questions like “what is the ERC-20 balance of an account” theoretically involves analyzing every single transaction from the genesis block to the present if one is only working with RPC endpoints.

Alchemy and Forta Team Up to Provide Forta Scan Node Infrastructure

Oct. 17, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is excited to announce that Alchemy, one of the largest and most trusted blockchain infrastructure platforms, is teaming up with Forta to provide a superior node running experience.

Aave Using Forta for Security and Operational Monitoring

Oct. 6, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is excited to announce that Aave, one of the largest and most trusted DeFi protocols, is using Forta to monitor critical protocol operations.

Breaking the Ice: a Phishing Deep Dive

Sep. 21, 2022𐤟by Forta

Phishing campaigns have plagued Web3, the impact of these attacks is devastating to end users and their drained wallets. Today’s safeguards today are inadequate, protections need to follow an in-depth approach protecting end-users at the web and transaction level. Forta can provide the necessary intelligence to be utilized by wallets providers in order to protect end-users at the transaction level. This article features a deep dive into the Multi/TrustPad Airdrop Phishing Campaign case study and exactly how Forta detected the scams.

Predicting Phishing Scams: A Kaggle Competition

Sep. 8, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta stands at the center of securing web3 through real-time monitoring of on-chain transactions for security threats. To help combat one of the worst offenders, ice phishing attacks, Forta is launching a competition with Kaggle.

GMX using Forta to monitor protocol security and health

Sep. 7, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is excited to announce GMX, one of the fastest-growing DeFi protocols on Avalanche and Arbitrum, is using Forta to monitor the security and health of the protocol.  GMX is a decentralized spot and perpetual exchange that supports low swap fees and zero price impact trades. Trading is supported by a unique multi-asset pool that […]

Trader Joe using Forta to monitor protocol security and health

Sep. 6, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is excited to announce Trader Joe, one of the largest and most trusted DeFi protocols on Avalanche, is using Forta to monitor the security and health of the protocol.  Trader Joe is the largest decentralized exchange on Avalanche, having facilitated over $88bn in trading volume since launching in July 2021. Trader Joe also offers […]

One Year of Forta and a More Secure Decentralized Economy

Sep. 1, 2022𐤟by Forta

Since launching in 2021, the Forta Network has made tremendous strides in protecting Web3 as the risk and velocity of hacks increase. Used by thousands of individuals and dozens of protocols, Forta protects Web3’s critical infrastructure and wallets via a decentralized and community owned Network.

Monitoring the Merge with Nethermind

Aug. 30, 2022𐤟by Forta

Today, Nethermind and Forta are announcing the deployment of two monitoring bots custom built for anyone to track milestones leading up to the Merge, currently estimated to happen somewhere between 10th-20th September.

100,000 FORT Pledged to Gitcoin Grants to Protect Web3 From Hacks

Aug. 25, 2022𐤟by Forta

As part of Gitcoin Grants Round 15, the Forta community voted to pledge 100,000 FORT to empower detection bot developers to secure Web3. Starting now, anyone can apply for the Forta Network’s grant program.

Three Ways Machine Learning Can Detect Web3 Security Threats

Aug. 19, 2022𐤟by Forta

Detection bots and machine learning can be a potent combination, since machine learning can surface Web3 security threats effectively in real-time. Here are three ways machine learning can do this and some examples to help you get started. 

Social Engineering Bot Showcase

Aug. 9, 2022𐤟by Forta

Social engineering and spoofing is a common problem across DeFi, everyday users experience a wide variety of these attacks. Frontends are a weak point for DeFi as they can be easily attacked and spoofed. A recent trend has been where an attacker sets up a frontend that looks identical to the spoofed project’s UI asking the user to sign a malicious contract.

BENQI Using Forta for Security and Operational Monitoring

Aug. 2, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is excited to announce that BENQI, one of the largest and most trusted DeFi protocols on Avalanche, is using Forta to monitor critical protocol operations. 

Balancer Using Forta to Monitor the Security and Health of the Protocol

Jul. 29, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is excited to announce that Balancer, one of the largest and most trusted DeFi projects, is using Forta to monitor the security and health of the protocol. 

Forta Node Staking Parameters Increase on September 30, 2022

Jul. 5, 2022𐤟by Forta

Beginning September 30, 2022, the minimum FORT token stake requirement for a Forta node will be increased from 500 FORT to 2,500 FORT in order to bolster the security of the Network.

dYdX using Forta for security and operational monitoring

Jun. 29, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is excited to announce that dYdX, one of the largest and most trusted DeFi protocols, is using Forta to monitor critical protocol operations. dYdX is a leading decentralized exchange that currently supports perpetual trading. dYdX runs on smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain, and allows users to trade with no intermediaries.

Up to $100,000 per Bounty in Forta’s Official Bug Bounty Program

Jun. 28, 2022𐤟by Forta

Supporting seven chains and monitoring thousands of critical transactions, the Forta community relies on the network to provide critical alerts in real time, essential for security and operations. By establishing an effective bug bounty program, the Forta Network will better safeguard its own  security while securing its position as the de facto choice for on-chain monitoring.

Introducing Forta Threat Detection Kits

Jun. 24, 2022𐤟by Forta

Over the last two months, the Forta community has invested in lowering that friction by introducing easy-to-use Forta Threat Detection Kits for DeFi, NFT, Stable Coins, Bridges and Governance. Protocol simply need to subscribe to these alerts to see an immediate security value add.

ANZ Bank joins Forta Network; helping monitor Web3 for threats and anomalies

Jun. 21, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is excited to announce that ANZ, the second largest bank in Australia, has used Forta to help monitor activity associated with its recently announced A$DC stablecoin. ANZ is also supporting the infrastructure side of the Forta Network, operating a scan node that monitors Web3 for threats and other anomalies. 

Detecting Exploits Before Funds Are Lost Using Attack Simulation

Jun. 16, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta monitors blockchain transactions to identify these attacks in real time. A Forta detection bot could utilize a simulation based approach to mimic the exploit transaction locally before the exploitation occurs on-chain. Saddle Finance Hack Case Study The Saddle Finance attack occurred in April 2022, resulting in approximately $11M USD being stolen. When attacks occur, […]

Forta’s FORT Token Goes Live

Jun. 15, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta, the leading real-time detection network for Web3 security & operational monitoring, launched the FORT Token today. A live FORT Token is a key milestone for Forta’s Permissionless Launch in its mission to monitor all transactions and protect all assets in Web3. Early contributors can now claim FORT Tokens as part of the FORT Airdrop. […]

Time Series Analysis with Forta

Jun. 10, 2022𐤟by Forta

In this blog, Artem Kovalchuk, Vincent Alessi, and Vyacheslav Trushkov introduce how to turn common blockchain events into anomaly detection findings through time series analysis. Both detection bots introduced here were developed by Forta community bot detection developers Artem and Vyacheslav during the recent Forta contest. The intent of this blog is to expand the bot developer’s community toolbox to create more valuable Forta detection bots that help to secure web3.

FORT Airdrop: It’s Time to Protect Web3

Jun. 8, 2022𐤟by Forta

The FORT Airdrop rewards early contributors and seeds the broader Web3 security community with FORT tokens so they can begin building on the Forta Network Forta is a real-time detection network for security & operational monitoring of blockchain activity. As part of its mission to monitor all transactions and protect all assets in Web3, Forta […]

Secure Supply Chain Framework for Smart Contracts

Jun. 7, 2022𐤟by Forta

By Andy Beal, Nassim Eddequiouaq, Riyaz Faizullabhoy, Michael Lewellen, Juan Carpanelli and Christian Seifert Many of the hacks that befall web3 projects are preventable.  Commonly, attackers find and exploit multiple deficiencies across the software development supply chain – the series of steps that go into releasing new code into the world, from design to deployment […]

Forta’s Permissionless Launch Approved by FORT Token Holders

Jun. 6, 2022𐤟by Forta

Yesterday the Forta community approved FP-1 with overwhelming support. Over 600 early community members voted on the very first Forta Proposal, with over 95% of votes agreeing that the Forta Network is operating on a decentralized basis and is ready for “Permissionless Launch”. Forta’s Permissionless Launch will remove the current transfer restrictions from the FORT […]

Leveraging Machine Learning with Forta to Improve Web3 Security

Jun. 2, 2022𐤟by Forta

Machine learning (ML) can bring tremendous value to the security of Web3. The Forta Network stands at the forefront of supporting the data science community to innovate, research, and protect web3.

MakerDAO using Forta for security and operational monitoring

May. 31, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is excited to announce that MakerDAO, one of the largest and most trusted DeFi protocols, is using Forta to monitor critical protocol operations.  The Maker Protocol is the set of smart contracts that make it possible to generate Dai. The Protocol was the first decentralized finance (DeFi) application to earn significant adoption and remains […]

1,000+ Forta Scan Nodes in Fortification: Forta’s Incentivized Network

May. 27, 2022𐤟by Forta

The Fortification Network Introduced Economic Incentives to Further Decentralize, Harden, and Scale Forta.  Forta is a real-time detection network for security & operational monitoring of blockchain activity. As part of its mission to monitor all transactions and protect all assets in Web3, Fortification was launched, an incentivized network to scale and stress-test Forta at high […]

Introducing a Framework for Forta Community Governance

May. 26, 2022𐤟by Forta

Last month, governance over Forta was endowed to the Forta Foundation, an independent, non-profit organization that holds certain assets in the Network and will facilitate governance of Forta by its community members. Today, the Foundation is introducing a community governance framework to further decentralize governance over Forta and its ecosystem. The decentralized architecture of the […]

Compound using Forta for security and operational monitoring

May. 24, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is excited to announce that Compound, one of the largest and most trusted DeFi protocols, is using Forta to detect critical security and operational risks in real-time. Launched in 2018, Compound is an algorithmic, autonomous interest rate protocol built for developers, to unlock a universe of open financial applications. In December 2021, the Compound […]

Flexa using Forta for operational monitoring

May. 18, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is excited to announce Flexa is using Forta to monitor system-critical operations.  Flexa’s mission is to make payments more efficient and accessible for people all over the world. The Flexa Network is the fastest, most fraud-proof payments network in the world, and the Flexa team is developing technology to make any asset spendable in […]

Alpaca Finance using Forta for operational monitoring

May. 11, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is excited to announce Alpaca Finance is using Forta to monitor system-critical operations.  Alpaca Finance is the largest lending protocol allowing leveraged yield farming on BNB Chain and Fantom. Alpaca helps lenders earn safe and stable yields, and offers borrowers undercollateralized loans for leveraged yield farming positions, vastly multiplying their farming principals and resulting […]

Lido using Forta for security and operational monitoring

May. 10, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is excited to announce that lido.fi, one of the largest DeFi protocols rankedby funds locked, is using Forta to detect critical security and operational risks in real-time. Lido is a liquid staking solution – a simple and secure way to earn interest on digital assets. On Ethereum, anyone can participate in securing the [Proof-of-Stake […]

Suspicious Contract Detection Bot

May. 10, 2022𐤟by Forta

Christian Seifert | Forta Researcher-in-Residence In this blog, we make a series of changes to an existing Detection Bot transforming it into a generic bot which generates relevant alerts to protocol security events. This is an extension of the potential exploiter bot developed by Nethermind, which raises an alert if an account funded by a privacy […]

Forta illuminates the Web3 Kill Chain

May. 4, 2022𐤟by Forta

This blog post introduces the Web3 Kill Chain and how this framework is useful in securing Web3 from a monitoring and incident response perspective. We look at some of the recent hacks, review the alert signal Forta emitted, and how those alerts could have been used to mitigate the attack. Reviewing the hacks that happened […]

Iron Bank using Forta for real-time threat detection

May. 3, 2022𐤟by Forta

Iron Bank is a decentralized protocol-to-protocol lending platform, allowing selected protocols to borrow funds with little to no collateral requirements. When we met the Iron Bank team, they expressed a desire to build on their existing security practices, including the use of run-time monitoring and active threat detection solutions like Forta.  IB’s commitment to security was […]

Getting Started with Forta

Apr. 26, 2022𐤟by Forta

In this article you will gain a high-level understanding of Forta detection bot development including myths, development workflows, dApps and SDKs that will lay out a clear path to develop on Forta. This article is intended for developers who are new to Forta and assumes you already have some general knowledge about blockchains such as […]

Announcing Fortification: Forta’s Incentivized Network

Apr. 21, 2022𐤟by Forta

The Fortification Network Introduces Economic Incentives to Further Decentralize, Harden, and Scale Forta.  Forta is a real-time detection network for security & operational monitoring of blockchain activity. As part of its mission to monitor all transactions and protect all assets in Web3, Forta is launching Fortification, an incentivized network to scale and stress-test Forta at […]

DeFi targeted by State Sponsored Adversaries: The Ronin Hack

Apr. 20, 2022𐤟by Forta

AxieInfinity suffered a $550+ million hack and nobody noticed for 6 days! Additional funds were put at risk due to a delayed response to the incident. Christian Seifert, researcher-in-residence shares all the details on the attack and how Forta could have prevented it.     On March 29th, the world learned about another massive Web3 hack that […]

Why Forta?

Apr. 19, 2022𐤟by Forta

My name is Christian Seifert; On April 11th, I made a professional change towards Web3 by joining the Forta community full-time, becoming Forta’s first Researcher-in-Residence. I will be actively researching and publishing content and examples of how Forta can become an integral part of a comprehensive layered security approach for Web3. I thought it would […]

Unveiling Forta’s FORT Token

Apr. 18, 2022𐤟by Forta

An Incentivized Network to Monitor and Protect All Transactions and Assets in Web3 Forta is a real-time detection network for security & operational monitoring of blockchain activity. As part of its mission to monitor all transactions and protect all assets in Web3, Forta is unveiling the FORT Token: an incentive structure to secure its monitoring […]

Liquity integrates with Forta to monitor protocol health and stability

Apr. 15, 2022𐤟by Forta

Liquity is a decentralized borrowing protocol that allows you to draw 0% interest loans against Ether used as collateral. Loans are paid out in LUSD – a USD pegged stablecoin, and need to maintain a minimum collateral ratio of only 110%. In addition to the collateral, the loans are secured by a stability pool containing […]

How to Derail a 120-Million-Dollar Hack

Apr. 14, 2022𐤟by Forta

The BadgerDAO cryptocurrency heist, in which USD 120 million was stolen from a group of hundreds of people, was the fifth largest theft of crypto assets in 2021 and the eleventh largest ever. This hack—specifically designed to attack Web3 and decentralized networks—revealed that current security measures are not enough.  Web3 is nascent, and it needs […]

Decentralizing Governance: Introducing the Forta Foundation

Apr. 5, 2022𐤟by Forta

For a Web3 real-time security and operational monitoring solution like Forta to provide maximum value, it needs to be decentralized. No single company with a centralized solution can address the constantly evolving risk landscape on blockchains. It would be an extremely difficult task for a centralized enterprise to keep up with the pace of innovation, […]

UMA integrates with Forta to monitor oracle operations

Mar. 30, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is happy to announce that UMA is using Forta detection bots to decentralize and bolster its oracle dispute process.  UMA is an optimistic oracle for Web 3, allowing smart contracts to ask almost any question and trust the answer. UMA’s oracle is used by projects like Perpetual, BadgerDAO, Sherlock and Across Protocol.  The optimistic […]

Instadapp Using Forta to Monitor Protocol Health

Mar. 15, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is happy to announce that Instadapp is using Forta to monitor their protocol for critical finance, governance and operational activity.

Forta to Decentralize Node Running and Add Multi-chain Support

Feb. 25, 2022𐤟by Forta

Forta is onboarding additional scan nodes as the Protocol continues to decentralize. Forta is also expanding its monitoring coverage beyond Ethereum – with support for Avalanche, Polygon and BSC launching in early February.

Web3 Security with Forta: 2021 & Beyond

Dec. 24, 2021𐤟by Forta

2021 has been an amazing year for the Forta Protocol, the first decentralized community-based security platform to prevent or mitigate smart contract exploits as they occur.

Poly Network Using Forta to Monitor Protocol Risks

Dec. 21, 2021𐤟by Forta

Forta is happy to announce that Poly Network is now using Forta to monitor for security and operational risks involving its bridge contracts.

Forta Boasts 100+ Developers Building Threat Detection Bots as App Goes Public

Nov. 1, 2021𐤟by Forta

To support continued growth, Forta is launching Forta Explorer and Forta Connect, two apps that give developers and users a platform to create, browse, and subscribe to security alerts.

How Forta Could Have Prevented Poly Network’s $600M Hack

Oct. 25, 2021𐤟by Forta

The first post in what will be a regular series exploring noteworthy smart contract security events in the industry and how Forta could have helped.

Nethermind wants to see the ‘Heartbeat of Ethereum Security’ on Forta

Oct. 14, 2021𐤟by Forta

Tomasz Stańczak from Nethermind, one of the developer teams building agents on the Forta protocol, reflects on the project and security best practices in the community.

Introducing Forta – a Web3 approach to securing the open economy

Sep. 30, 2021𐤟by Forta

To support continued growth, Forta is launching Forta Explorer and Forta Connect, two apps that give developers and users a platform to create, browse, and subscribe to security alerts.

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