logo
    • Buy Crypto
    • Markets
    • Futures
    • Spot
    • Earn
    • Affiliates & AI
    • More
    1. WEEX
    2. Crypto News
    3. North Korea's IT Deception in Remote Hiring: A Security Test for Cryptocurrency Recruitment

    North Korea's IT Deception in Remote Hiring: A Security Test for Cryptocurrency Recruitment

    By: rootdata|2026/08/14 01:24:28
    0
    Share
    copy
    Prefer us on GooglePrefer us on Google
    THETHE
    00.00%--
    NOTNOT
    00.00%--
    DRIFTDRIFT
    00.00%--
     

    A case of a remote developer interview suspected to be linked to North Korea has once again highlighted the hiring verification issues in the cryptocurrency industry. Hacking can begin not only from code vulnerabilities but also from the processes of selecting and granting authority to individuals.

    TechFlow reported on the 14th that an interviewee introduced himself as a developer but abruptly ended his response after being asked to criticize Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader. It is said that this interviewee claimed to like the movie "Frozen." The alias, nationality, and residence of the person mentioned in the article have not been independently verified.

    The crux of this case lies more in the method than in the identity of a single applicant. The U.S. Treasury and FBI have warned since 2022 that North Korean IT personnel are attempting to disguise themselves as non-North Korean nationals to gain employment in foreign companies. They aim to pass hiring procedures by using forged documents, stolen identities, fake personal information, remote access tools, and local accomplices.

    The FBI stated in a notice in January 2025 that North Korean IT personnel could exploit access to company networks to extract sensitive data and source code or use it for extortion. They recommended repeatedly verifying identities during the interview and onboarding stages and checking whether the same resume phrases or contact details are reused by multiple applicants.

    In March 2026, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on six accomplices and two corporations related to North Korean IT fraud. The Treasury noted that this method had generated nearly $800 million (approximately 11.344 trillion KRW) in revenue for North Korea in 2024 alone.

    Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, stated in the materials at that time, "The North Korean regime targets U.S. companies with deceptive methods using overseas IT personnel." Sanctioning authorities view North Korea's remote employment fraud not merely as a hiring issue but as part of foreign currency procurement and cyber operations.

    TRM Labs reported that the total amount lost to cryptocurrency hacking in the first half of 2026 was $972 million (approximately 13.783 trillion KRW). Of this, losses attributed to North Korean-linked activities were about $643 million (approximately 9.118 trillion KRW), accounting for 66%. TRM Labs estimated that the amount stolen by North Korea in 2025 was $1.92 billion (approximately 27.226 trillion KRW).

    The losses were concentrated in a few major incidents. TRM Labs reported that as of April 2026, approximately $577 million (about 8.182 trillion KRW) was stolen in two attacks on Drift and KelpDAO. The losses from Drift were reported to be $285 million (approximately 4.041 trillion KRW), while KelpDAO's losses were $292 million (approximately 4.141 trillion KRW).

    In the same report, TRM Labs stated that since 2017, North Korea's cumulative cryptocurrency theft has exceeded $6 billion (approximately 85.08 trillion KRW). As of April 2026, North Korean-linked hacking accounted for 76% of the cryptocurrency hacking losses recorded for that year up to that point. Depending on the timing and criteria of the tally, the figures for the first half of the year and the cumulative annual proportion were presented differently.

    Remote hiring is a particularly sensitive procedure for cryptocurrency companies. Developers can access code repositories, wallet infrastructure, signing procedures, and internal documents. If disguised personnel pass the hiring process, attacks could begin not from technical vulnerabilities but from work authorizations.

    This structure is also connected to previous security incidents. Earlier, it was reported that malicious software targeting Web3 professionals had been detected. Attackers were found to have attempted to extract wallet and browser-related information by inducing the installation of fake AI meeting tools.

    The issue of North Korea's overseas IT personnel cannot be viewed as a single incident. The multilateral sanctions monitoring team has stated that North Korea's cryptocurrency theft and the profits from overseas IT workers are used for weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. This is why the hiring process for overseas IT personnel is handled within the framework of money laundering and information theft response systems.

    However, responding solely to the "Kim Jong-un criticism question" is not the end of the matter. Mark Karpelès, former CEO of Mt. Gox, stated on X that this method is "actually an effective filter." It can be used as a question that allows for immediate verification of responses in the field.

    There are counterarguments as well. Discussions on Hacker News pointed out that such questions could lead to profiling controversies and could be undermined in the long term by scripts or deepfakes. There are concerns that relying on a single question for hiring security could narrow the verification process.

    The recommendations from the FBI and the U.S. Treasury emphasize procedural verification over a single question. They state that identity verification, location validation, access IP and device checks, remote access tool detection, and monitoring for unusual signs after hiring should all be applied together. The remote hiring procedures of cryptocurrency companies have entered a phase where they need to reassess internal authorization criteria alongside evaluating development capabilities.

    -- Price

    --

    This content is provided for general informational purposes only and doesn't constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Any events, rewards, online promotions, or related information mentioned herein should not be considered a recommendation, solicitation, or invitation to purchase, sell, trade, or otherwise deal in any crypto assets. Crypto assets are highly volatile and may result in loss. The availability of WEEX services, products, and related events may vary by region. You are responsible for ensuring that your participation is in accordance with applicable local laws and regulations.

    You may also like

    74% of Traditional Finance Investors Shift to Cryptocurrency Exchanges as 24-Hour Trading Changes Investment Patterns

    74% of Traditional Finance Investors Shift to Cryptocurrency Exchanges as 24-Hour Trading Changes Investment Patterns

    Global investors are increasingly moving their trading from traditional financial platforms to cryptocurrency exchanges due to reasons such as 24-hour trading and lower costs. Cryptocurrency ...
    Top "Head" That Once Made $30 Million Profit with Swarms is Now Heavily Investing in $BLINK

    Top "Head" That Once Made $30 Million Profit with Swarms is Now Heavily Investing in $BLINK

    Matt Hougan Interview: Digital Asset Market Cap to Reach $10 Trillion by 2030

    Matt Hougan Interview: Digital Asset Market Cap to Reach $10 Trillion by 2030

    Goldman Sachs to Acquire NEOS for Up to $2.25 Billion, Including Bitcoin Revenue ETF Business

    Goldman Sachs to Acquire NEOS for Up to $2.25 Billion, Including Bitcoin Revenue ETF Business

    Coinbase Faces Security Alerts in x402 Payments

    Coinbase Faces Security Alerts in x402 Payments

    A study submitted at the 35th USENIX Security Symposium indicates that 15 major x402 payment facilitators, including Coinbase, Thirdweb, PayAI, and Mogami, have security vulnerabilities. According to the study, all evaluated platforms violated at least one security rule, concentrating 99% of observe...
    Renan Santos Commits to Bitcoin at Blockchain Rio 2026: "We Can Be the Largest Crypto-Friendly Nation"

    Renan Santos Commits to Bitcoin at Blockchain Rio 2026: "We Can Be the Largest Crypto-Friendly Nation"

    The candidate attended the largest blockchain event in Latin America and discussed his proposals for the sector.
    Mortgage Loans: The Government is Considering a Plan to Boost Loans with FGS Funds from ANSES

    Mortgage Loans: The Government is Considering a Plan to Boost Loans with FGS Funds from ANSES

    The Minister of Economy confirmed in response to a question from Ámbito that he is studying, together with Human Capital, a scheme for the ANSES fund to bid for long-term fixed deposits among banks. The goal is to generate funding to enhance mortgage credit.
    Fed July rate hold was ‘absolutely’ right, Kaplan says

    Fed July rate hold was ‘absolutely’ right, Kaplan says

    Apple Issues Spyware Attack Alerts to Users in 110 Countries

    Apple Issues Spyware Attack Alerts to Users in 110 Countries

    Nubank Achieves $1 Billion Profit: What Explains the Surge

    Nubank Achieves $1 Billion Profit: What Explains the Surge

    Web3: Foreign Media Reports Solana Poised to Support Mainstream Crypto Applications

    Web3: Foreign Media Reports Solana Poised to Support Mainstream Crypto Applications

    Conflux sets v3.1.0 hard fork for Aug. 25 with seven CIPs

    Conflux sets v3.1.0 hard fork for Aug. 25 with seven CIPs

    Writer Launches New Model Palmyra X6 Focused on Cost Reduction

    Writer Launches New Model Palmyra X6 Focused on Cost Reduction

    Dollar Credits: BCRA Reveals Scheme Allowing Banks to Expand Loans to Companies

    Dollar Credits: BCRA Reveals Scheme Allowing Banks to Expand Loans to Companies

    The monetary authority established a cap of 15% of foreign currency deposits for each entity for the new permitted destinations. It will also require more capital, stricter exposure limits, and repayment capacity tests in the event of dollar fluctuations.
    Bitcoin Coalition Calls for Access to the Same AI Tools Used by Attackers

    Bitcoin Coalition Calls for Access to the Same AI Tools Used by Attackers

    Bitcoin Acquisition Channels in the U.S. Expand Through ETFs, Advisors, and 401(k) Plans

    Bitcoin Acquisition Channels in the U.S. Expand Through ETFs, Advisors, and 401(k) Plans

    Retail investors in the U.S. are expanding their channels for acquiring Bitcoin through traditional financial market avenues, such as advisor-managed portfolios, brokerage accounts for trading spot ETFs, and potentially retirement products linked to 401(k) plans. The asset is quoted at nearly US$ 63...
    web3: OpenAI Launches Ultrafast Mode, GPT 5.6 Sol Speed Increased to 14 Times

    web3: OpenAI Launches Ultrafast Mode, GPT 5.6 Sol Speed Increased to 14 Times

    United States Turns to Contractors for Cyberattacks with an Eye on Cryptocurrencies

    United States Turns to Contractors for Cyberattacks with an Eye on Cryptocurrencies

    Baltimore sues Kalshi and Polymarket, roping Coinbase, Robinhood and Webull into the fight

    Baltimore sues Kalshi and Polymarket, roping Coinbase, Robinhood and Webull into the fight

    Anthropic Tests Reveal Adversarial Behavior in Multi-Agent Collaboration

    Anthropic Tests Reveal Adversarial Behavior in Multi-Agent Collaboration

    UK GDP and Earnings Pressure European Markets

    UK GDP and Earnings Pressure European Markets

    After the failure of BIP-110, Plan B considers it nearly impossible to recreate Bitcoin's beginnings

    After the failure of BIP-110, Plan B considers it nearly impossible to recreate Bitcoin's beginnings

    The BIP-110 fork fizzled out on August 8, 2026: for Giacomo Zucco (Plan B Network), the failure proves that Bitcoin could no longer be reborn today.
    web3: Trump Media Discloses Bitcoin Holding and Lending Risks

    web3: Trump Media Discloses Bitcoin Holding and Lending Risks

    A $10 billion firm is landing in Argentina: which banks and fintechs it targets

    A $10 billion firm is landing in Argentina: which banks and fintechs it targets

    Staking is beginning to leap from the crypto world to the traditional financial system: global providers seek to attract banks, exchanges, and funds while Argentina emerges as a gateway.
    Microsoft Retreats from China: AI-Driven Strategy of 'Reduction Instead of Withdrawal' - Reuters

    Microsoft Retreats from China: AI-Driven Strategy of 'Reduction Instead of Withdrawal' - Reuters

    BlockDAG’s $0.002 Entry Raises Questions About a Potential 1000x Move While Aave & Cardano Prices Slip

    BlockDAG’s $0.002 Entry Raises Questions About a Potential 1000x Move While Aave & Cardano Prices Slip

    Ford Invests $2 Billion to Revamp Factory, Fathom Electric Pickup Set for Production in 2027

    Ford Invests $2 Billion to Revamp Factory, Fathom Electric Pickup Set for Production in 2027

    Mitsubishi Challenges 'Real-Time Settlement of Japanese Government Bonds' Based on Blockchain

    Mitsubishi Challenges 'Real-Time Settlement of Japanese Government Bonds' Based on Blockchain

    web3: Riot Sells 4,300 Bitcoins to Advance AI Data Center Construction

    web3: Riot Sells 4,300 Bitcoins to Advance AI Data Center Construction

    web3: UBS Increases Spot Bitcoin ETF Holdings to $90 Million

    web3: UBS Increases Spot Bitcoin ETF Holdings to $90 Million

    74% of Traditional Finance Investors Shift to Cryptocurrency Exchanges as 24-Hour Trading Changes Investment Patterns

    Global investors are increasingly moving their trading from traditional financial platforms to cryptocurrency exchanges due to reasons such as 24-hour trading and lower costs. Cryptocurrency ...

    Top "Head" That Once Made $30 Million Profit with Swarms is Now Heavily Investing in $BLINK

    Matt Hougan Interview: Digital Asset Market Cap to Reach $10 Trillion by 2030

    Goldman Sachs to Acquire NEOS for Up to $2.25 Billion, Including Bitcoin Revenue ETF Business

    Coinbase Faces Security Alerts in x402 Payments

    A study submitted at the 35th USENIX Security Symposium indicates that 15 major x402 payment facilitators, including Coinbase, Thirdweb, PayAI, and Mogami, have security vulnerabilities. According to the study, all evaluated platforms violated at least one security rule, concentrating 99% of observe...

    Renan Santos Commits to Bitcoin at Blockchain Rio 2026: "We Can Be the Largest Crypto-Friendly Nation"

    The candidate attended the largest blockchain event in Latin America and discussed his proposals for the sector.
    ...
    Invite friends, get rewards
    Invite to get up to $160 + 40% commission
    Invite friends, get rewardsInvite

    Contents

    THE

    Latest articles

    2026/08/14

    North Korea's IT Deception in Remote Hiring: A Security Test for Cryptocurrency Recruitment

    A case of a remote developer interview suspected to be linked to North Korea has once again highlighted the hiring verification issues in the cryptocurrency industry. Hacking can begin not only from code vulnerabilities but also from the processes of selecting and granting authority to individuals.
    THETHE
    00.00%--
    NOTNOT
    00.00%--
    DRIFTDRIFT
    00.00%--
    2026/08/14

    Coinbase Faces Security Alerts in x402 Payments

    A study submitted at the 35th USENIX Security Symposium indicates that 15 major x402 payment facilitators, including Coinbase, Thirdweb, PayAI, and Mogami, have security vulnerabilities. According to the study, all evaluated platforms violated at least one security rule, concentrating 99% of observe...
    TAKETAKE
    00.00%--
    THETHE
    00.00%--
    ONEONE
    00.00%--
    2026/08/13

    Dollar Credits: BCRA Reveals Scheme Allowing Banks to Expand Loans to Companies

    The monetary authority established a cap of 15% of foreign currency deposits for each entity for the new permitted destinations. It will also require more capital, stricter exposure limits, and repayment capacity tests in the event of dollar fluctuations.
    BANKBANK
    00.00%--
    THETHE
    00.00%--
    2026/08/13

    Bitcoin Acquisition Channels in the U.S. Expand Through ETFs, Advisors, and 401(k) Plans

    Retail investors in the U.S. are expanding their channels for acquiring Bitcoin through traditional financial market avenues, such as advisor-managed portfolios, brokerage accounts for trading spot ETFs, and potentially retirement products linked to 401(k) plans. The asset is quoted at nearly US$ 63...
    SPOTSPOT
    00.00%--
    OPENOPEN
    00.00%--
    THETHE
    00.00%--
    2026/08/13

    After the failure of BIP-110, Plan B considers it nearly impossible to recreate Bitcoin's beginnings

    The BIP-110 fork fizzled out on August 8, 2026: for Giacomo Zucco (Plan B Network), the failure proves that Bitcoin could no longer be reborn today.
    POWERPOWER
    00.00%--
    THETHE
    00.00%--
    SOONSOON
    00.00%--
    More

    Latest coin listings on WEEX

    logoCommunity
    iconiconiconiconiconiconicon
    Customer Support:@weikecs
    Business Cooperation:@weikecs
    Quant Trading & MM:[email protected]
    VIP Program:[email protected]
    • About Us
    • Announcement Center
    • Media Kit
    • WEEX Community
    • WXT Zone
    • Announcement
    • Legal Statement
    • Risk Disclosure
    • Terms and Policies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Whistleblower Notice
    • AML/CTF Policy
    • Law Enforcement
    • User Guide
    • Product Launches
    • Crypto News
    • Product Launches
    • Crypto Wiki
    • Learn
    • Q&A
    • Spot
    • Futures
    • Glossary
    • VIP Program
    • Download
    • Affiliate
    • Protection Fund
    • Proof of Reserves
    • Sitemap
    • ETFs
    • Crypto Prices
    • Price Predictions
    • WXT Price
    • BTC Price
    • ETH Price
    • DOGE Price
    • How to Buy Crypto
    • How to Buy WXT
    • How to Buy BTC
    • How to Buy ETH
    • How to Buy DOGE
    • Help Center
    • Fee Schedule
    • Trading Rules
    • WEEX Academy
    • Contact Verifier
    • Submit Feedback
    • About Us
    • Announcement Center
    • Media Kit
    • WEEX Community
    • WXT Zone
    • Announcement
    • Help Center
    • Fee Schedule
    • Trading Rules
    • WEEX Academy
    • Contact Verifier
    • Submit Feedback
    • Customer Support Bot
    • VIP Services
    • Legal Statement
    • Risk Disclosure
    • Terms and Policies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Whistleblower Notice
    • AML/CTF Policy
    • Law Enforcement
    • Proof of Reserves
    • Invite Friends
    • OTC
    • Download
    • Affiliate
    • VIP Program
    • API
    • Broker
    • Listing Application
    • Affiliate T&C
    • Sitemap
    • Futures
    • Spot
    • Copy Trade
    • Markets
    • WEEX Store
    • User Guide
    • Product Launches
    • Crypto News
    • Product Launches
    • Crypto Wiki
    • Learn
    • Q&A
    • Spot
    • Futures
    • Glossary
    • VIP Program
    • Download
    • Affiliate
    • Protection Fund
    • Proof of Reserves
    • Sitemap
    • ETFs
    • Crypto Prices
    • Price Predictions
    • WXT Price
    • BTC Price
    • ETH Price
    • DOGE Price
    • How to Buy Crypto
    • How to Buy WXT
    • How to Buy BTC
    • How to Buy ETH
    • How to Buy DOGE
    • About Us
    • Announcement Center
    • Media Kit
    • WEEX Community
    • WXT Zone
    • Announcement
    • Help Center
    • Fee Schedule
    • Trading Rules
    • WEEX Academy
    • Contact Verifier
    • Submit Feedback
    • Legal Statement
    • Risk Disclosure
    • Terms and Policies
    • Privacy Policy
    • Whistleblower Notice
    • AML/CTF Policy
    • Law Enforcement
    • Customer Support Bot
    • VIP Services
    • Futures
    • Spot
    • Copy Trade
    • Markets
    • WEEX Store
    • Proof of Reserves
    • Invite Friends
    • OTC
    • Download
    • Affiliate
    • VIP Program
    • API
    • Broker
    • Listing Application
    • Affiliate T&C
    • Sitemap
    • User Guide
    • Product Launches
    • Crypto News
    • Product Launches
    • Crypto Wiki
    • Learn
    • Q&A
    • Spot
    • Futures
    • Glossary
    • VIP Program
    • Download
    • Affiliate
    • Protection Fund
    • Proof of Reserves
    • Sitemap
    • ETFs
    • Crypto Prices
    • Price Predictions
    • WXT Price
    • BTC Price
    • ETH Price
    • DOGE Price
    • How to Buy Crypto
    • How to Buy WXT
    • How to Buy BTC
    • How to Buy ETH
    • How to Buy DOGE

    Where new wealth is made

    Download app

    Sign Up
    h5 logo
    Download