September 19, 2024 at 08:53AM
A postmortem on the accidental hiring of a North Korean threat actor at a security firm uncovered a network of fake IT workers groomed to deceive US companies for the financial benefit of the North Korean government. The actors slipped through background checks and posed as credible employees, exploiting the shift to remote work and global hiring trends. KnowBe4 shared lessons learned and guidance for identifying and addressing this threat.
Based on the meeting notes, the key takeaways are:
1. The North Korean government has a sophisticated program to send operatives posing as legitimate IT workers to organizations for financial gain, cyberespionage, and potential sabotage.
2. The program involves a complex, industrial-scale operation with skilled individuals who can pass background checks and interview processes effectively.
3. Organizations with largely remote workforces are at a higher risk of inadvertently hiring North Korean fake employees.
4. The program exploits the cultural shift in the hiring process, embracing remote work and hiring candidates based on knowledge and abilities rather than geographical location.
5. There are four integral parts to the fake employee scheme: North Korean-based program leaders, employees and managers based in other countries, non-Korean scheme assisters in the job location, and infrastructure for supporting activities.
6. Organizations can help spot a North Korean threat actor during the hiring process by scrutinizing characteristics, behaviors, and credentials while offering after-hiring advice for detecting suspicious activities.
7. It’s essential for organizations to “threat model” their hiring process and make updates to mitigate the risk of hiring fake employees.
8. In the case of suspicion, organizations should immediately report to senior management, lock down the employee’s device, monitor for unusual activities, and take appropriate actions if suspicions are confirmed.
9. KnowBe4 emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement in security measures and sharing lessons learned to help others become more secure.
These takeaways provide valuable insights into the nature of the threat and offer guidance for organizations to protect themselves from inadvertently hiring North Korean fake employees.