Hackers can STEAL your Bitcoin with simple trick that hijacks your cryptocurrency – urgent warning and how to stop it

CYBER security buffs are warning crypto fans of a scam that aims to rob unsuspecting victims of their Bitcoin.

An investigation revealed that hackers have stolen at least $24million in cryptocurrency by taking over a victim's clipboard.

A mobile or PC's clipboard is used to copy and paste text and images between apps on the phone.

It's frequently used to copy passwords or cryptocurrency wallet addresses – a fact that cyber crooks know all too well.

The Bitcoin-pinching attack was detailed in a shared by researchers at Czech cybersecurity giant Avast on Tuesday.

It involves the so-called "MyKings" botnet, which has been infecting PCs and phones since 2016.

Botnets are networks of hijacked computer devices used to carry out various scams and cyberattacks.

And it seems scammers are scouring the clipboards of many of these computers for cryptocurrency wallet addresses.

They're the long strings of 26 to 35 numbers and characters that crypto fans plug in when sending their virtual cash to someone – or themselves.

When the cyber crooks behind the scam spot an address in a clipboard, they swap it out for a different address – this one owned by the attackers.