FBI: North Korean hackers are 'actively targeting' cryptocurrency industry employees

BlockBeats news, September 3, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) pointed out that North Korean cybercriminals are "actively targeting" employees in the Web3 industry to steal encrypted funds.

The FBI stated in a press release on Tuesday that North Korean criminals deployed complex social engineering strategies to deceive individuals in cryptocurrency and decentralized finance (DeFi) companies, thereby "undermining networks related to cryptocurrency assets." Such plans pose a "persistent threat" to entities holding large amounts of cryptocurrency or related products.

The FBI went on to say: “Over the past several months, North Korean malicious cyber actors have conducted research on various targets associated with cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This research, including pre-operation preparations, indicates that North Korean attackers may target companies associated with cryptocurrency ETFs or other cryptocurrency-related financial products for malicious cyber activity.”

In addition to researching potential targets, North Korean cybercriminals impersonate well-known members of employees’ companies or create false scenarios (tailored to the victim’s background, skills, or business interests) to gain and exploit their trust.