# how tampered Ledger devices with a hidden implant and 4G modem steal

Source: https://x.com/FourVork/status/2108568901093081133

here's how hackers steal your crypto from tampered Ledgers.

they attach a small hardware implant to the wires connecting Ledger's secure chip to the OLED display.

basically, anything displayed on the screen can also be read by the hidden chip.

so when your 24-word seed phrase appears during setup, the implant captures it and stores it.

then a built-in 4G modem and eSIM transmit that phrase to the attacker, completely independently of your computer.

the craziest part is that the device can still pass Ledger's authenticity check because the original secure chip is genuine.

and fun fact: some people even buy these fake Ledgers just to extract the eSIM and use it for free mobile data lmao