Microsoft got hacked, and somehow Clippy ended up in a crypto scheme
Microsoft’s official X (formerly Twitter) account was compromised this week in what appears to have been an attempt to promote a cryptocurrency token tied to Clippy, the company’s iconic virtual assistant from the Office suite. The hackers who gained unauthorized access to the account used it to follow another account and repost a message asking about bringing back the beloved office assistant.
The compromised account @clippymsftcto has since been suspended by X. This incident represents a serious security breach for one of the world’s largest technology companies. While Clippy has been the subject of lighthearted nostalgia and playful cultural references from Microsoft over the years, this hijacking cynically co-opted that goodwill for what appears to be a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme.
The breach highlights the growing trend of high-profile account takeovers being weaponized to promote malicious cryptocurrency projects and pump-and-dump schemes. Compromises of verified accounts belonging to major corporations carry significant reputational risk for the companies involved and can expose their users to financial fraud.