By George Ward
According to a California-based blockchain security platform, hackers from North Korea are attempting to gain access to users’ crypto wallets by sending phony job offers to unsuspecting individuals. The company Proofpoint cited two South Korean media platforms, KBS and TVChosun, in its report.
A State-Backed Hacking Attempt
Proofpoint revealed that the group known by the pseudonym TA444 is the mastermind behind the latest hacking attempt targeting individual crypto accounts. The firm claimed that TA444 is a North Korean state-backed advanced persistent threat group tasked with generating funds for the country’s governing regime.
Furthermore, the security provider added that the group was historically associated with bank heists but has recently shifted its attention to crypto. It stated that TA444 signifies capitalists’ startup ethos with its dedication to the dollar and the grind.
As a result, the group has reportedly targeted individuals with phishing emails that allow them to access victims’ crypto accounts. Proofpoint has numerous data about the activities of the North Korean hacking group showing bogus job roles with supposed salaries as PDF attachments in the emails they send to unsuspecting targets.
The security firm explained that not only is the group offering phony jobs to crypto wallet owners, but TA444 also has a sophisticated marketing strategy geared toward increasing its chances of accumulating revenue through attacks.
Proofpoint believes the group has started a massive phishing campaign targeting finance, education, healthcare, and other foreign government establishments, including Canada and the United States.
Making Secret And Purposeful Moves
Reports indicate that TA444 stepped up its offensive strategy last December and has already begun targeting potential victims on LinkedIn, the popular social media job platform. However, reports of the group’s activities are a relatively new development.
Law enforcement agencies have previously accused North Korea of using similar tactics to defraud others since 2020. A local media outlet, TVChosun, quotes Hong Min, head of South Korea’s Institute for National Unification, saying that North Korea can only raise funds through hacking and stealing public funds via the web.