North Korean hackers stole over $400 million in crypto using fake video calls – FBI
North Korean state-sponsored hackers stole more than $400 million in cryptocurrency over 18 months using fake video calls, according to the FBI. The bureau seized more than 900 webcam recordings the hackers had secretly made and used to impersonate victims.
In an advisory released Thursday, the FBI said the campaign, which it calls “FaceStealer,” primarily targeted people and companies in the cryptocurrency industry.
The hackers used hijacked accounts to send meeting invitations that appeared to come from people the targets knew. On the calls, recordings of previous victims made it look like those contacts were present.
The fake meetings were used to infect computers with malware, giving the hackers access to cryptocurrency and, in some cases, work accounts.
The FBI said some thefts took place months or more than a year after the initial breach, as the hackers waited for victims’ wallet balances to grow.
The hackers have also started using AI-generated videos of prominent cryptocurrency figures, though the FBI said the scheme still relies mainly on genuine recordings.
In one case earlier this year, the hackers gained access to an open-source software library downloaded tens of millions of times a week. The breach was detected before the hackers could use it to distribute malware widely.
The FBI advised users to confirm unexpected meeting invitations through a separate channel and join through official apps using meeting codes. It also recommended keeping webcams off until users can see, hear and speak with the person who invited them.
The post North Korean hackers stole over $400 million in crypto using fake video calls – FBI appeared first on BNO News.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
