Cybersecurity News that Matters

[Weekend Briefing] Russia’s DDoS attack against South Korean government

By Dain Oh

“Weekend Briefing” is a weekly newsletter sent to subscribers of The Readable every Friday. Our journalists select important news items from the previous week on topics ranging from privacy to policy development in cybersecurity, all to help you stay abreast of the latest breaking issues. And not only is this provided free of cost to […]

North Korean hackers teaming up with notorious Play ransomware gang, Palo Alto findings say

By David DiMolfetta

A North Korean-backed hacking group dubbed Jumpy Pisces has teamed up with a prominent ransomware collective, according to threat research out last week from Palo Alto Networks. The report indicates that a recent ransomware incident revealed an unusual alliance between North Korean hackers and the infamous Play ransomware gang. However, the specifics of the attack […]

New malware allows North Korea to deploy fake recruitment schemes, research says

By David DiMolfetta

Programming interviews for software development roles are a common practice in the tech industry. However, it is rare for these interviews to involve code designed to secretly steal sensitive data from job candidates’ computers. “He wanted me to open up a full stack application and explain the code. I did, but I ran it in […]

North Korea

North Korean hackers preyed on crypto and fintech in Brazil, report reveals

According to a United States tech giant on Thursday, North Korean government-linked hackers have focused their efforts on targeting cryptocurrency and financial technology companies in Brazil. Concurrent with these activities, North Korean hacking groups accounted for one-third of all government-backed phishing attacks aimed at the country. In a blog post on Google Cloud, the tech […]

North Korean hackers leverage online games to distribute malware, Microsoft reveals

A new North Korean hacking group has allegedly developed an online game and sent compromised emails to their targets while posing as game developers and investors, according to a statement from a United States tech giant on Tuesday. In a recent blog post, Microsoft Threat Intelligence announced that a new North Korean hacking group had […]

US Treasury report: North Korean hackers stole $720 million of virtual assets

The United States Department of the Treasury revealed that hackers affiliated with the North Korean government stole $720 million worth of virtual assets, funds allegedly diverted to fuel the development of illegal weapons. On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury released a groundbreaking report titled ‘Illicit Finance Risk Assessment of Non-Fungible Tokens.’ In this inaugural report, the […]

[Weekend Briefing] North Korea’s data theft, Seoul, and AI

[Weekend Briefing] North Korea intensifies full-fledged social engineering campaigns

North Korean hackers target LinkedIn users with fake Chinese profile

A North Korean hacking group allegedly disguised itself as a Chinese investor on a social media platform, employing this guise to lure victims into engaging with phishing attacks. According to the blockchain security firm SlowMist, the Lazarus group allegedly crafted a fraudulent account on LinkedIn named “Nevil Bolson.” Purporting to be an investor and entrepreneur, […]

South Korea issues warning on North Korean cyber threats at the UN

South Korea highlighted concerns on Thursday regarding North Korea’s cyber activities, malicious attacks being undertaken to generate funds for the nation’s illicit missile programs. South Korea called on the international community to work together to address the pressing threat. Hwang Joon-kook, South Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations, highlighted North Korea’s cyber activities as one […]

South Korea, US, Japan met to discuss North Korea’s cyber threats

On Friday, senior government officials from South Korea, the United States, and Japan met in Washington D.C. to coordinate responses to ongoing cyber threats out of North Korea. The meeting was a follow up on agreements reached at Camp David during a summit held in August 2023. Senior officials represented the three countries, including Lee […]

South Korean chip makers targeted by hackers from North, spy agency warns

By Dain Oh, The ReadableMar. 4, 2024 8:54PM GMT+9 South Korea’s semiconductor industry has become a significant target for North Korean hackers, with two companies recently falling victim to their attacks. It is believed that the hackers, who managed to steal computer chip blueprints and photographs of facilities, are seeking to secure knowledge that would […]

South Korea, Germany jointly warn of North Korea’s defense technology theft

Intelligence agencies from South Korea and Germany jointly issued a security advisory concerning cyber threats from North Korea, primarily regarding the theft of advanced defense technology. This marks the second occasion that the two countries have issued a joint cybersecurity statement against cyberattacks attributed to the Pyongyang regime. On February 19, the National Intelligence Service […]