Arrr! The FBI be sayin' those scurvy North Korean rascals be usin' VPNs to sneak into businesses, mateys!
2023-10-20
Avast ye! To ward off them North Korean scoundrels, the US and South Korean rule be for them freelancers to cease usin' their VPNs. Here be what be unfoldin' at this very moment, me hearties!
In a humorous tone reminiscent of 17th-century pirates, the FBI has warned US companies about North Korean hackers using deceptive tactics to secure remote IT jobs. These hackers, believed to number in the thousands, have been concealing their identities and using the money earned to fund Kim Jong Un's weapons program, steal company secrets, and deploy malware. To combat this threat, US and South Korean authorities have updated their guidelines for employers to help them avoid hiring North Korean agents posing as freelance workers. Jay Greenberg, an FBI agent, described North Korea as flooding the global marketplace with ill-intentioned IT workers. In their campaign, the hackers have used stolen identification documents, fake social media accounts, and virtual private networks to deceive employers and maintain their anonymity. The FBI has managed to seize $1.5 million and 17 web domain names used in the deceptive campaign, but the infiltration of North Korean agents into companies is believed to still be ongoing. Employers are urged to be vigilant and verify the identities of their remote IT workers. The FBI recommends additional proactive steps, such as monitoring for suspicious behaviors and conducting background checks. Employers are also advised to implement a zero-trust cybersecurity approach and require freelancers to disable their private VPNs when accessing company networks. It's important to note that the tech sector is not the only field targeted by North Korean hackers. Without due diligence, companies risk financial loss or compromise from unknowingly inviting insider threats into their systems.