TL;DR: Microsoft Security Intelligence warned, “We found a malicious HTML file posing as a Kobe Bryant wallpaper that contains a coin mining script.” The American basketball star’s sudden death recently in a helicopter crash was further compounded by his 13-year-old daughter also having been counted among the dead, eliciting worldwide online tributes.

Kobe Bryant Wallpaper Exploited as Malicious HTML File

“While the world mourns the loss of an NBA legend, cybercriminals are, as expected, taking advantage of the tragedy,” Microsoft Security Intelligence explained. “Microsoft Defender SmartScreen blocks the website hosting the coin miner. Microsoft Defender ATP detects the malicious HTML file as Trojan:HTML/Brocoiner.N!lib (SHA-256: 86031a7d35968a1ff1f20441afce6eee504cdb98c1fbee9a4708ad989a5f2269).”

Bryant, ironically enough, was tangentially connected to cryptocurrency last year as a paid panelist, interview at the niTROn Summit in San Franciso, hosted by Justin Sun’s project, TRON. In truth, the NBA legend was probably there to add name recognition and to speak inspirationally about topics such as his career and investing generally.

Kobe Bryant, 41, the legendary basketball star who spent 20 years with the LA Lakers, passed away today. Kobe is a member of the TRON Family. As such, we will be dedicating @niTROnSummit's festivities to his legendary life & legacy. Please share your favorite Kobe memories here pic.twitter.com/Ra8IzFBpbc — TRON Foundation (@Tronfoundation) January 26, 2020

In press materials leading up to the 2019 event, Sun explained, “I have been a huge fan of Kobe and deeply inspired by his journey. It’s my great honor to have Kobe as our special guest for the niTROn Summit. “It’s worth mentioning that Kobe Bryant is not only a basketball genius, but also an investment genius.” Part of Bryant’s legend includes an investment in a Coca-Cola related sports drink, yielding a reported near $200 million windfall.

Upon learning of Bryant’s death, Sun’s TRON Foundation tweeted a lament. The move was roundly criticized for seizing upon a tragic event and for crass marketing, branding purposes. Doubling down, Sun also marked the occasion. “Kobe, was great to have met you in niTROn 2019. Mtg you was one of my life’s greatest honor & privilege, I’ll forever remember us on stage discussing the future of blockchain. We’ll have a moment of silence in your honor during niTROn 2020. R.I.P.”

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