North Korean Hacker Impersonates 'Steven Smith' in Job Application at Crypto Exchange, According to News Report
Cracking the Capital, One Job at a Time: North Korea's Hackers in Cryptocurrency Exchanges
In an intriguing turn of events, a North Korean hacker attempting to score a job at Kraken - one of the world's leading crypto exchange platforms - was caught red-handed. As reported by CBS News, this hacker disguised himself to infiltrate the organization, aiming to swipe cash and sensitive data.
Kraken's Chief Security Officer, Nick Percoco, revealed the audacious plan. The North Korean, masquerading as "Steven Smith", applied for an IT position at the crypto exchange, using his cunning skills to deceive his way through the application and interview processes. Percoco, however, was not about to let this slide.
According to the report, the hacker posed various inconsistencies during interviews, like using different names and displaying voice changes - hinting at real-time coaching. Percoco and his team noticed these irregularities but decided to continue with the process, aiming to unveil the degenerate plan.
Casual questions about cultural aspects exposed the hacker's lack of knowledge about U.S. culture, which contradicted his claimed background. Kraken's security team, therefore, proceeded to conduct a live investigation into the attempted deception, learning more about the tactics used by state-sponsored cyber operations.
Kraken's vetting process includes checking applicants against "Do Not Hire" lists shared by law enforcement, allowing them to identify such dangerous elements. The team also scrutinizes resumes and interview performances meticulously.
During interviews, they use casual, seemingly innocuous questions to assess an applicant's cultural background and consistency. This approach helps to uncover deception without arousing suspicion. The team also engages with suspicious applicants continually, gathering valuable insights into the tactics used by cyber threats and refining their security protocols accordingly.
North Korea's hacker groups, such as the infamous Lazarus Group, have been constantly targeting cryptocurrency exchanges in their aggressive cyber operations. These nefarious activities aim to support the regime's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The United Nations estimates that North Korea generates between $250 million to $600 million annually through such illicit tactics.
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[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kraken-crypto-exchange-catches-north-korean-hacker-pretending-to-be-us-citizen-for-job-interview/[2] https://fortune.com/2021/08/05/north-korean-hackers-cryptocurrency-exchange-us-sanctions/[3] https://securityboulevard.com/2020/01/korean-hackers-lure-victims-employees-with-job-offers-crowdstrike-report/[4] https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/20/tech/north-korean-hackers-cyberattacks/index.html[5] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-cyber-sanctions-idUSKBN1QW21G
[1] The job interview process can be a sneaky avenue for hackers, as a North Korean threat actor, disguised as "Steven Smith," attempted to infiltrate the crypto trading platform Kraken, even posing questions about American culture to mask his true identity.
[2] Financial institutions like Kraken prioritize security measures, implementing practices such as checking applicants against "Do Not Hire" lists, scrutinizing resumes, and subtly assessing cultural backgrounds, to thwart state-sponsored cyber operations targeting blockchain and altcoin exchanges.
