Good day everyone,
I hope you are all having a good day, welcome to CryptoGod-1's blog on all things crypto. In this post I will be looking at the recent report by DL news that North Koreans are applying for jobs in the crypto sector in an attempt to infiltrate projects for malicious purposes.
North Koreans Infiltrating Crypto Jobs
A number of North Koreans have been applying for crypto jobs using fake applications for the purpose of malicious intentions. They have made hiring in the space even more difficult, and a recent investigation has uncovered a troubling trend where doctored CVs are being used to deceive crypto companies.
The report by DL News noted how mounting evidence shows that many bogus applicants are North Korean nationals aiming to infiltrate crypto projects for malicious purposes, such as gathering sensitive data, hacking, and asset theft.
According to Shaun Potts, founder of the crypto-specific recruiting firm Plexus:
“It’s an operational hazard for the industry. It’s an ongoing thing, in the same way that hacking is a thing within tech. You can’t stop it, but you can minimise its risks.”
A recent United Nations Security Council report noted how over 4,000 North Koreans were directed to conceal their identities as they look for jobs in technology sectors, including crypto. The 615-page report also highlights that North Korean hackers have stolen $3 billion worth of crypto assets from 58 suspected cyberheists over the past seven years. The UN also estimates that the North Koreans have made up to $600 million annually from the fake hiring scheme.
The lead security researcher at MetaMask, Taylor Monahan, noted that North Korea generates revenue by illegally selling resources, doing IT work, doing hard labour, and hacking. This latest development has created a new challenge within an already increasingly mainstream industry.
Applicants copy real life LinkedIn profiles and alter them slightly to avoid any detection. In one case, an applicant claiming to be a native Dutch speaker hung up during a video interview when asked to speak in Dutch. A co-founder of crypto venture studio Number Group, Zak Cole, also noted a disturbing pattern among the fake applicants: many refused to turn on their cameras during video interviews, and their responses often contradicted their CVs. He noted:
“They all have the same kind of script.”
Some of the undercover North Korean employees have reportedly made as much as $60,000 monthly, holding multiple full-time and freelance jobs. These high earners keep 30% of their earnings and hand the rest to authorities in Pyongyang, according to the UN report.
Have a great day.
Peace. CryptoGod-1.
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