Protspec
Reducing successful crypto scams through technology, education, and research.
What is Protspec?
Protspec is a new web3 security lab that develops technology and educational content to help reduce the number of successful crypto scams in our space.
Currently Protspec has two projects:
- Bulwark, an open-source browser extension that detects crypto phishing dapps, specifically wallet drainers, using a rule-based detection engine and in a privacy-preserving manner
- Continuous, public and educational research on malware scams that trick crypto users into downloading and executing “infostealers”, typically sent through social media
Between these two projects, and possibly more in the future, Protspec aims to elevate the security hygiene of our space and give its users the knowledge to be able to avoid disastrous situations.
The founder, d0wnlore, also writes about end-user security and anti-phishing topics on his X account as well as publications like IndyPen CryptoMedia.
Why Fund Protspec?
Protspec aims to offer its current security projects as public goods. However without the necessary funding needed to offset the time and effort needed to conduct research, development and maintenance, then this may not be possible for much longer.
This would further reduce the end-user security tooling and education in our space needed to maintain or surpass the efforts made by malicious actors.
Many grant programs that would have been depended on by security efforts like Protspec have since switched to focusing on those increasing onchain activity. Such efforts can provide great value for the stewards and users of those grant programs, but are locked out due to not having a direct onchain component.
I’m interpreting this ENS Public Goods round as being more flexible in how funding gets allocated, as long at the grantee is helping the ENS ecosystem. I believe Protspec, despite not building onchain or using any ENS functionality, still helps your ecosystem due to the fact that many of Protspec’s target users and readership likely use ENS as well.