Crypto exchange Kraken thwarted a sophisticated hacking attempt by North Korean cybercriminals, who disguised their actions as a job application for an engineering role. The scheme demonstrates the growing use of social engineering and insider threats in the crypto industry, according to the platform. 🧐
Kraken’s investigation revealed the suspect used fake credentials during interviews, hinting at outside coaching. Further scrutiny led them to uncover a broader network of fake identities used by the hacker to apply to multiple firms across different industries.
The exchange proactively advanced the process, allowing for deeper intelligence gathering before confirming the applicant’s identity. Kraken Chief Security Officer Nick Percoco conducted series of traps that ultimately exposed the imposter’s true nature, demonstrating the importance of verification in today’s complex security landscape.
This incident follows warnings from authorities around the world that North Korea is utilizing IT workers to infiltrate crypto firms and steal funds or sensitive data. Lazarus Group, a well-known North Korean hacking collective, has been linked to major breaches affecting Bybit and other platforms this year.