Western nations issue a critical warning about the increasing threat posed by North Korean hackers. Learn about the latest security concerns and how to protect your data from cyberattacks.
According to a collaborative notice from intelligence agencies in America, Britain, and South Korea, an infamous North Korean cybercrime group has been actively attacking global organizations with the intention of pilfering confidential data.
On Thursday, the British GCHQ intelligence agency’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) partnered with American counterparts FBI, NSA and Pentagon along with South Korean national police agencies to issue a cyber warning.
In a statement, Paul Chichester, director of operations for NCSC commented on the revealed global cyber espionage operation and emphasized that it exemplifies how far DPRK state-sponsored actors are ready to proceed in order to advance their military and nuclear programs.
Andariel, a group of hackers, has reportedly targeted defense, aerospace, nuclear and engineering agencies in South Korea as well as the UK and US based on an advisory. Hospitals and healthcare organizations across America have also been affected by these alleged attacks with extortion being used to finance future espionage operations.
Up to $10 million is being offered by the US Department of State as a reward for any information that could result in Rim Jong Hyok’s arrest as he has been allegedly linked with Andariel. The American government suspects Andariel, under his supervision, targeted five healthcare providers based in America and four military contractors along with two Air Force bases belonging to the United States apart from NASA’s office inspector-general (OIG).
Andariel is considered as a continuous threat to vital infrastructure worldwide by the NCSC, and identified as a member of North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau’s third directorate.
The Kaspersky and South Korea’s Financial Security Institute (FSI) identified Andariel for the first time in 2017, stating that it was a group primarily interested in targeting government agencies and businesses within South Korea with an ultimate goal of securing profits.
