The US Department of Justice, FBI, State Department, and cybersecurity companies have uncovered a shocking revelation – American companies have unknowingly employed numerous North Korean workers for remote IT roles.
This elaborate scheme orchestrated by the North Korean government has been ongoing for years and serves as a means to finance their weapons program in defiance of US sanctions.
To carry out this deception, North Korean agents utilize stolen identities of US citizens, craft realistic resumes using generative AI tools, and even generate AI-created photos for their online profiles.
By employing VPNs and proxy servers to conceal their true locations and operating laptop farms managed by intermediaries in the US to create the facade of domestic IP addresses, these perpetrators go as far as using Western-based employees for virtual interviews or resorting to real-time deepfake videoconferencing tools. They even provide mailing addresses for receiving payments.
These covert operatives from North Korea have infiltrated over 300 American companies ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to tech giants, cybersecurity firms, and aerospace manufacturers.
US officials believe that this illicit operation generates millions of dollars annually for North Korea, directly funding its nuclear programs, ballistic missile initiatives, and espionage activities.
2024-09-23 15:15:03
Original from www.computerworld.com