Privacy protocol Umbra has taken down its website to hinder hackers using it to move funds stolen from recent high-profile hacks. The protocol acknowledged that approximately $800,000 in illicit funds were transferred via Umbra. This action follows the exploitation of the Kelp protocol for over $280 million, with suspicions pointing to North Korean hackers attempting to bridge funds between Ethereum and Bitcoin using Umbra.
Umbra stated the front-end will be restored once recovery efforts are not obstructed. However, they noted that users can still access smart contracts or self-hosted versions of its open-source front-end. Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, warned that pausing a front end might not be sufficient to satisfy authorities, suggesting that changes to user interfaces can be interpreted as full control. Umbra maintains that its protocol is designed to protect receiver identity and is not ideal for obscuring sender trails, with all stolen funds traceable.