Washington (CNN) Devin, the founder of a San Francisco-based cryptocurrency business, woke up one day in February with the most bizarre line of his life.
The man, on the other hand, an FBI agent, told Devin that the software developer who appeared to have hired him last summer was a North Korean employee who had sent tens of thousands of dollars. his salary in the state administration.
Surprised, Devin was hanged and immediately fired an employee at company records, he said.
Devin complained: “It was a good donation,” surprised by a man who claimed to be Chinese and went through many negotiations to be hired. (CNN uses a pseudonym for Devin to protect his company information).
Devin’s summit is just one example of what U.S. officials say is a continuous, ongoing effort by the North Korean government to intercept and steal cryptocurrency and other tech companies from around the world. broadly financing Kim Jong Un’s program of illegal nuclear and ballistic missiles.
North Korea – government-backed hackers have stolen the equivalent of billions of dollars in recent years by attacking cryptocurrency exchanges, according to the United Nations. In some cases, they have managed to capture hundreds of millions of dollars in one tactic, the FBI and private investigators say.
Then, U.S. government analysts publicly warn of a crucial pillar of North Korea’s policy, in which the government puts workers in technology jobs across the information technology industry.
The FBI, Treasury and State Department issued an unusual public consultation in May on the thousands of “high-tech” IT professionals who provide Pyongyang with a “significant cash flow” to help in “things”. government economic and security priorities.
It is an elaborate monetary strategy based on leading companies, contractors and scammers to hunt down an unsustainable industry that is always chasing high-level talent. North Korean tech workers can earn more than $ 300,000 a year – hundreds of times the average North Korean citizen – and up to 90% of their salaries go to government, according to US advice.
“(North Koreans) take this matter seriously,” said Soo Kim, a former North Korean spy for the CIA. “It’s not just that a certain rando in his basement is trying to dig a mining cryptocurrency,” he added, referring to the digital currency generating process. “It’s a way of life.”
The value of crypto currency has plummeted in recent months, and it is damaging North Korea’s property by millions of dollars. According to Chainalysis, a firm that tracking digital currency, the value of North Korean Holdings has been based on cryptocurrency “packs,” or records, which have not cashed out by more than half a drop since the end of last year, since $ 170 million to. about $ 65 million.
But analysts say the crypto currency industry is too important for North Korean users to turn away due to too little industry security and the role that crypto currency can play in avoiding penalties.
U.S. officials in recent months have been holding a series of private talks with foreign governments such as Japan, and U.S. and foreign technology firms, to raise concerns about the threat to North Korean IT staff, an official of the Ministry of Finance dealing with the North. Korea told CNN.
The list of North Korean-owned companies covers almost every component of the private science sector, including payment processors and hiring firms, the official said. .
Pyongyang has sponsored its overseas scientific staff for years of revenue. But the coronavirus – and the occasional closure it caused to North Korea – if anything, has made the tech diaspora a significant source of funding for the government, a Treasurer told CNN .
“The Treasury will continue to focus on efforts to generate DPRK funding, including its IT staffing program and cyber-related malpractice,” said Brian Nelson, Vice-Chancellor for Finance for terrorism and financial intelligence, he said in a CNN statement, using abbreviated terms for North Korea.
Nelson, who last month met with South Korean government officials to discuss ways to combat North Korea’s crackdown on North Korean crime.
CNN sent an e-mail and called the North Korean Embassy in London for comment.
Federal researchers are also looking at Americans who would like to lend their digital knowledge skills to North Korea.
In April, 39-year-old American computer programmer Virgil Griffith was sentenced to more than five years in US prison for violating US sanctions against North Korea after speaking at a blockchain conference where in 2019 about how to avoid penalties. Griffith pleaded guilty and, in a statement sent to the judge before sentencing, described the “deep remorse” and “shame” for his actions, which he said out of curiosity to see North Korea. “before it falls.”
But the long-term challenge facing US officials is far more subtle than the outstanding blockchain conferences in Pyongyang. It includes trying to reduce the many financial resources the North Korean government receives from its technological diaspora.
Double-edged sword
The North Korean government has always benefited from outsiders who undermine the government’s ability to be independent, to thrive in the black market and to use information technology that supports the global economy. To see also : Joint Statement with United States, France, Germany, and United Kingdom About IAEA Board of Governors Resolution – United States Department of State.
The government has created a powerful criminal group by selecting promising students of mathematics and science in the school, placing North Korea in the same dialogue as Iran, China and Russia as US intelligence officials discuss cyber power.
One of North Korea’s most notorious hacks has occurred in 2014 with the malfunctioning of Sony Pictures Entertainment computer software in retaliation for “The Interview,” a film linked to a plot to assassinate Kim Jong Un. Two years later, North Korean criminals robbed the Bangladeshi Bank of about $ 81 million by abusing the SWIFT banking system.
North Korean hacking groups have in recent years trained their minds in the boom-and-bust cryptocurrency market.
The results have been stellar at times.
Pyongyang-linked hackers in March stole what was then worth $ 600 million in cryptocurrency from a Vietnam-based video gaming company, according to the FBI. And North Korean hackers could possibly be after $ 100 million heist in a California-based cryptocurrency firm, according to blockchain analysis firm Elliptic.
“Most of these firms and crypto services are still far from the level of security we see with traditional banks and other financial institutions,” said Fred Plan, chief auditor of the firm. Mandiant cybersecurity, which investigated suspected North Korean technology workers and shared. some of its research with CNN.
Thousands of North Korean technology workers give Pyongyang a double-edged sword: They can earn the same amount of UN and US sanctions and go to the same government every time they give North Korean-based criminals have access to cryptocurrencies or other technology firms. IT staff sometimes provide “logistical” support to hackers and transfer cryptocurrencies, a recent US government official said.
“The community of top North Korean programmers who have permission to connect with the West is actually very small,” said Nick Carlsen, who until last year was an FBI intelligence detective looking at North Korea. , he told CNN.
“These guys know each other. Even if a certain IT employee is not a tyrant, he knows it completely,” said Carlsen, who now works for TRM Labs, a firm investigating financial fraud. “Any weaknesses that they can identify in the customer service process could be very serious.”
And technologists and criminals from North Korea have used the relatively open job search system – where anyone can create anyone on a platform like LinkedIn – to their advantage. For example, in late 2019, potential North Korean jokers presented themselves as employers on LinkedIn to address key data stored by employees of two European aerospace and airline companies. security, according to researchers at the ESET cybersecurity firm.
“We are desperately looking for signs of government-sponsored action on stage and we are quick to take action against bad actors in order to protect our members,” LinkedIn said in a CNN statement. “We do not wait for applications, our threat intelligence team removes fake accounts using the information we discover and intelligence from various sources, including government agencies.”
Learning to spot red flags
Some in the crypto currency industry are becoming more cautious as they seek to hire new talent. To see also : HallyuPopFest in London prepares for K-Pop Festival & Korean Business Exhibitor Market. In Jonathan Wu’s case, a video call with a job nominee in April could prevent him from hiring a suspected North Korean tech worker.
As the head of Aztec’s growing advertising, a private equity company for Ethereum, a popular form of crypto currency technology, Wu was looking for a new software engineer when the hiring team met with Promising CV that someone has submitted.
The applicant shared experience with non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other components of the crypto currency market.
“It seemed like someone we could hire as an engineer,” Wu, who lives in New York, told CNN.
But Wu saw a number of red flags on the applicant, who gave him his name “Bobby Sierra.” He spoke at a pause in English during the interview, turned off his webcam, and was unable to keep his history straight as he was looking for a job at Aztec, according to Wu.
Wu did not end up hiring “Sierra,” who wanted his Canadian residency permit.
“It sounded like he was in a call center,” Wu said. “It sounded like there were four or five guys in the office, also talking loudly, and it also seemed like they were in conversations or calls and talking about a mixture of Korean and English.”
“Sierra” did not respond to messages sent to his e-mail and Telegraph accounts seeking comment.
CNN has received CVs from so-called North Korean tech workers sent to the Wu factory and started a crypto-funded start by Devin. CVs appear to be deliberate in order not to arouse suspicion and to use the word buzzwords known in the crypto currency industry such as “scalability” and “blockchain.”
Another suspected North Korean operation followed by Mandiant, a cybersecurity firm, raised a number of questions from some people in the cryptocurrency community about how Ethereum works and interacts with technology. some, Mandiant said.
North Korea may have been collecting information about technology that could be useful for later destruction, according to Mandiant lead expert Michael Barnhart.
“These guys know exactly what they want from Ethereum makers,” Barnhart said. “They know exactly what they want.”
False reports and other tactics used by North Koreans may be more convincing, said Kim, a former CIA analyst who is currently a policy analyst at RAND Corp., a think tank.
“While the business is not yet complete, in terms of their approach to foreigners and addressing their weaknesses, it is still a new North Korean market,” Kim told CNN. “Given the challenges facing the government – food shortages, the few countries willing to work with North Korea … this will be something they will continue to use because no one is stopping them , especially. “
What is the future of Bitcoin?
Schwartz predicts that the next decade “will bring about an explosion of cheap, fast-paced payments that will transform the exchange of quality in the way that the Internet has transformed the information exchange. Read also : Dodge County Real Estate Transfer Local fremonttribune.com. & Quot; So far in 2021, the price of Bitcoin has risen to $ 60,000 before dropping to $ 40,000.
Is Bitcoin a good investment for the future? The high value associated with bitcoin makes it a great investment vessel if you are looking for short-term gains. Digital currencies can also be a long-term investment due to their high market demand. Low risk risk.
What will be Bitcoin worth in 2030?
However, there was a very divided picture when respondents were asked how much bitcoin would be in 2030. Only 4.8% believed it had a chance to have more than $ 500,000, while 5.5% set between $ 100,000 and $ 500,000 â €. “and only 18.6% predicts that the value of BTC will exceed $ 50,000.
What will BTC be worth in 5 years?
And a recent study by Deutsche Bank found that about a quarter of Bitcoin investors believe that the price of Bitcoin will exceed $ 110,000 in five years. Instability is not a new phenomenon, and it is a major reason why experts say that new crypto investors should be extra careful when investing their portfolio in cryptocurrency.
What will Bitcoin be worth in 20 years?
Crypto Research Report Forecasts $ 397k by 2030 According to the popular Crypto Research Report, the price of Bitcoin is in the range of up to $ 397,000 by 2030. At this rate, Bitcoin will no doubt be one of the most valuable assets best in the world.
Is Bitcoin a good investment 2022?
Experts say Bitcoin could hit $ 100,000 by 2022. Here’s What Investors Should Know | NextAdvisor at TIME. Now is a good time to save! Money has recently made the largest interest profit in 28 years, meaning APYs are higher than NextAdvisor.
What will bitcoin be worth in 2023?
After reviewing Bitcoin prices years ago, it is estimated that by 2023, the minimum price for Bitcoin will be $ 53,038.77. The expected maximum price of BTC is about $ 64,734.01. On average, the transaction price could be $ 54,570.32 by 2023.
What will Bitcoins reach in 2025?
It is predicted that Bitcoin will grow exponentially and sharply in the coming years. Experts predict that the bitcoin market value could reach $ 400 billion by 2025.
What will be the value of Bitcoin in 2022?
The downturn in the stock market by the end of 2021, and the collapse of high-growth stocks, have also lowered cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin completed 2021 approximately $ 47,300. As of June 24, 2022, bitcoin is trading at $ 21,145.
What will bitcoin be worth in 2023?
After reviewing Bitcoin prices years ago, it is estimated that by 2023, the minimum price for Bitcoin will be $ 53,038.77. The expected maximum price of BTC is about $ 64,734.01. On average, the transaction price could be $ 54,570.32 by 2023.
How much will 1 bitcoin be worth in 2025?
It could be a year of Bitcoin. There is a strong possibility that the first Bitcoin 2025 statement will double in price, but it is also likely to hit the $ 50,000 level.
Which is worse North or South Korea?
The South came out slightly ahead: 37.1 per cent believed the Republic of Korea (ROK) forces were too strong, compared to 36.5 per cent who saw the DPRK Korean Army and power.
Which is stronger than North or South Korea? Short answer: North Korean troops are passing North Korea but North Korea’s nuclear weapons prevent South Korea from using them.
Which is the good Korea North or South?
2ï »¿South of the DMZ, South Korea operates one of the world’s most developed economies, while its northern neighbor is a dictatorial military regime that maintains a strong economic arm. The North continues to face food and nutrition challenges among other problems.
Which Korea is rich south or north?
In 2019, South Korea’s gross domestic product (GDP) was approximately 1,919 billion won by South Korea, compared to North Korea’s 35.28 billion North Korean gross portfolio.
What is the biggest difference between North Korea and South Korea?
(They are very clear: North Korea is a communist tyrant, there are strict rules about what citizens can do, say, or listen to, while South Korea gives its citizens greater freedom.)
Is North Korea unsafe?
Do not travel to North Korea because of the high risk of arrest and prolonged detention of U.S. citizens You cannot use a U.S. passport. to visit, enter, or pass through North Korea without special permission from the State Department.
Is North or South Korea safe?
TOTAL RISK: HIGHLY Overall, North Korea is unsafe and some governments advise its citizens against visiting the country.
Can people leave North Korea?
Freedom of movement. North Korean citizens are often unable to travel around the country freely, let alone overseas. Migration and migration are strictly controlled.
What is the difference of North and South Korea?
| North Korea | South Korea |
|---|---|
| The DPRK is a one-party state. The official motto of the government is “Juche” or “National Confidence”. | ROK is a form of government of the Presidential Republic |
Are North Korea and South Korea the same?
The two Koreas are separated by a devastated area, a four-mile [4 km] stretch along the 38th parallel that divides the Korean peninsula by about half.
Why is North and South Korea divided?
Japan fought wars to conquer Korea, but after WWII, Japan lost all power over it, after which the US and the Soviets divided it by 38th parallel. Korea was separated from North and South Korea when Japan was forced to surrender all its colonies to the Soviets and the United States after losing WWII.
Who hacked cryptocurrency?
The FBI said Thursday that Lazaro Group, a major hacking group operated by the North Korean government, is responsible for the March 2022 operation of the cryptocurrency platform Ronin Network. The hackers stole $ 620 million from the cryptocurrency Ethereum. That is an impressive figure in almost any case.
How do scammers steal your crypto currency? Bitcoin users are assigned private keys, which allow access to their bitcoins. Hackers can hack into wallets and steal bitcoins if they know the user’s secret key.
How much crypto has been stolen?
The Elliptic security firm estimates that more than $ 1 billion has been stolen from blockchain bridges so far by 2022, out of five major hacks. Ronin Network, co-host of the popular crypto-gaming network Axie Infinity, became one of the largest crypto in history in March after $ 600 million they have been stolen.
How much cryptocurrency was stolen?
Many eyes in the crypto world are looking at the 42-letter address on the Ethereum blockchain, which has a vague identity and is now home to nearly $ 600 million. Criminals have stolen money from gamers. online “Axie Infinity” on the March 23 robbery revealed last week.
How many Bitcoins have been lost or stolen?
A 2017 report from Chainalysis, a forensics company, estimated that between 2.78 million and 3.79 million lost. That comes from a total of about 19 million rounds today, with a high supply of 21 million tokens when Bitcoin is fully mined.
Which crypto was stolen?
Many eyes in the crypto world are looking at the 42-letter address on the Ethereum blockchain, which has a vague identity and is now home to nearly $ 600 million. Criminals have stolen money from gamers. online “Axie Infinity” on the March 23 robbery revealed last week.
Who lost the most money on crypto?
Jed McCaleb and Chris Larsen, two co-founders of the Ripple blockchain-based payment system, lost $ 300 million and $ 1.1 billion respectively.
Which cryptocurrency can be traced?
Yes. Bitcoin can be tracked. Although bitcoin can be made, shaken, and stored without the supervision of any central authority such as the government, every bitcoin transaction is recorded in a permanent book available. publicly known as the blockchain.
Which crypto Cannot be hacked?
Blockchain was designed for security. In theory, blockchain design makes it impossible to compromise. Each location, or data record, is digitally signed with a ‘hash’ – the result of a mathematical algorithm – based on the content of the record and each blockchain record.
Can you recover hacked crypto?
And because of the transparency of blockchain technology, authorities can verify that stolen property belongs to anyone who has been victimized in a major fraud. So you can recover stolen crypto currency even if thieves or criminals keep it in an inactive wallet.
Which Cryptocurrency is not a security?
In 2018, Clayton clarified in an interview with CNBC that real cryptocurrensets (i.e., which only serve as a standard fiat transfer) are assets rather than compensation (“SEC chairman: Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are not securities (June 6, 2018).
Is crypto popular in South Korea?
Crypto currencies are a well-known investment among young South Koreans who see it as a path to success in an ever-increasing levels of unemployment.
How big is the Korean crypto market? According to South Korea’s finance minister, the country’s cryptocurrency market has reached 55.2 trillion wins since December, with an average daily trading revenue of 11.3 trillion. More than 15.2 million people in this country have accounts with 24 crypto currency merchants. Of those registered, 5.6 million are actually trading.
Why is crypto so popular in Korea?
The Bottom Line. The combination of political instability, familiarity with micropayment systems, and economic crises have made cryptocurrencies an attractive choice for South Korean investors. The country has always been the first recipient of key technologies that change the world.
Is South Korea crypto friendly?
South Korea is one of the world’s most active cryptocurrencies. The market grew to 55.2 trillion won ($ 45.9 billion) by the end of 2021, when the number of users reached about 5.58 million or about 10% of the country’s population, according to a survey he is the country’s chief financial officer.
Which crypto popular in South Korea?
As of January 2022, the number of coins listed on the South Korean Bithumb exchange has stood around 190, followed by Coinone with about 189 cryptocurrencies.
Is South Korea crypto friendly?
South Korea is one of the world’s most active cryptocurrencies. The market grew to 55.2 trillion won ($ 45.9 billion) by the end of 2021, when the number of users reached about 5.58 million or about 10% of the country’s population, according to a survey he is the country’s chief financial officer.
Is crypto allowed in Korea?
It is legal to own, sell and buy crypto goods in South Korea. Crypto goods have not been officially registered as an official fee by the South Korean government.
Does South Korea accept Bitcoin?
In March 2020, the South Korean National Assembly passed a new law that paved the way for regulation and legal registration in cryptocurrensets and crypto exchanges. This action was taken in recognition of the growing crypto-currency market and the COVID-19 epidemic.
Does North Korea hold Bitcoin?
North Korea’s secrecy regime has been said to be involved in crypto currencies as a means of accumulating assets that could prevent current sanctions and restrictions. It is said that North Korea acquires mining equipment to participate in the production of new Bitcoins and other crypto tokens.
How does North Korea steal crypto? According to Chainalysis, North Korea has turned to advanced methods of laundering stolen cryptocurrency, increasing the use of software tools to pool and scramble cryptocurrencies from thousands of electronic addresses – a designer for digital storage space.
Does Bitcoin work in North Korea?
Thanks to complementary services such as wallets and exchanges, North Korea is able to mine or steal bitcoin to support its economy and the arrow program.
Does North Korea use cryptocurrency?
The Treasury said in a press release that North Korea has used Blender.io to launder more than $ 20.5 billion in crypto currency that it allegedly stole from the online game Axie Infinity in March. Criminals have stolen more than $ 600 million in crypto money from the game owner.
How much Bitcoin does North Korea have?
North Korean hackers may have seized about $ 400 million in cryptocurrency last year, according to crypto data firm Chainalysis. This year, North Korea’s withdrawal is less than $ 1 billion.
Is Bitcoin used in Korea?
Bitcoin is accepted in many stores and service providers throughout South Korea.
Is there Bitcoin ATM in Korea?
Unfortunately, there is no bitcoin ATM that we know of in South Korea. You can view a complete list of countries with known bitcoin ATM transactions.
What Bitcoin wallet does Korea use?
Korbit is the first bitcoin exchange in South Korea and has strong financial support for the trade. The platform is widely accepted by its users and has two Korean and English languages and allows users to purchase Bitcoins in local fiat currency, South Korean Won (KRW).
Does North Korea support cryptocurrency?
North Korea sees crypto currency as a way of life amid the devastation caused by the epidemic in its mainstream economy.
How much Bitcoin does North Korea have?
North Korean hackers may have seized about $ 400 million in cryptocurrency last year, according to crypto data firm Chainalysis. This year, North Korea’s withdrawal is less than $ 1 billion.
Does North Korea use crypto?
The Treasury said in a press release that North Korea has used Blender.io to launder more than $ 20.5 billion in crypto currency that it allegedly stole from the online game Axie Infinity in March. Criminals have stolen more than $ 600 million in crypto money from the game owner.
