A company recently fell victim to a cyberattack after unknowingly hiring a North Korean hacker as a remote IT contractor, the BBC reported.
The individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, fabricated his employment history and personal details to secure the job. Once granted access to the company’s network, he downloaded sensitive data and subsequently demanded a ransom.
The firm, based in the UK, US, or Australia, chose to remain anonymous but collaborated with Secureworks to raise awareness of the incident. The hacker, employed for four months, likely redirected his salary to North Korea, circumventing international sanctions.
After being dismissed for poor performance, he sent ransom emails that included stolen data and threatened to leak or sell it unless a six-figure payment in cryptocurrency was made.
This incident is part of a troubling trend, with authorities warning of North Korean operatives infiltrating Western firms to generate revenue for the regime.
Since 2022, numerous companies have reported hiring such individuals, with Cybersecurity firm Mandiant saying that dozens of Fortune 100 companies have been affected.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.