May 16, 2024 at 03:47PM
Microsoft has noted increased cyber and influence activities from China and North Korea. Chinese actors are targeting specific regions and using AI to create divisive content. North Korean threat actors focus on cryptocurrency theft and software supply chain attacks to fund their weapons program. Security teams should be vigilant and aware of these evolving threats.
Certainly! Here are the key takeaways from the meeting notes:
1. Chinese Influence Actors:
– Chinese cyber actors are targeting entities across the South Pacific islands, regional adversaries in the South China Sea, and the US defense industrial base.
– Chinese influence actors are using AI-generated content to exacerbate rifts in the Asia-Pacific region and stoke divisions within the US.
– Storm-1376, a prominent Chinese threat actor, is using AI content to mislead audiences and spread conspiratorial content, particularly targeting the US government.
2. North Korean Cyber Threats:
– North Korean threat actors have been involved in cryptocurrency theft operations, software supply chain attacks, and targeting of perceived national security adversaries.
– Sapphire Sleet, a North Korean threat actor, has conducted frequent cryptocurrency theft operations using new techniques like fake virtual meeting invitations and fake job-recruiting websites.
– Groups like Jade Sleet and Onyx Sleet have conducted software supply chain attacks using GitHub repos, weaponized npm packages, and exploiting vulnerabilities like TeamCity CVE-2023-42793.
3. Future Outlook:
– Security teams need to remain informed about the evolving tactics of nation-state threat groups from China and North Korea.
– As the 2024 election cycle in the US approaches, China is expected to continue creating and amplifying AI-generated content targeted at the American public.
– With North Korea pursuing ambitious plans for weapons testing, security teams for defense and related industries must remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated cryptocurrency heists and supply chain attacks.
These takeaways provide a clear understanding of the current cyber and influence trends from China and North Korea, emphasizing the need for security teams to proactively protect their organizations against these evolving threats.