North Korea’s hackers compromise Fortune 500 companies

Excerpt

Although Beijing and Moscow pose the most “active and persistent” cyberthreats, according to U.S. intelligence, Pyongyang is demonstrating with artificial intelligence just how dangerous hackers can be. North Korean hackers are using AI deepfakes to trick recruiters and human resource personnel at some of the largest companies around the world, as well as cybersecurity firms themselves.

Employed by unwitting Western companies, these hackers earn six-figure salaries, money that feeds into Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear weapons programs. They also plant malware they can use to steal data and extort the companies when and if they get exposed. As North Korean cybercriminal operations become more sophisticated, American companies will continue falling victim unless the U.S. government helps them better protect themselves.

Mathew Ha is an adjunct fellow with the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Annie Fixler serves as CCTI’s director and is a senior fellow with FDD.