Summary
North Korean hackers stole more than $400 million in cryptocurrency over 18 months through a scam the FBI calls FaceStealer. They hijack messaging accounts, use stolen webcam footage or AI-generated videos to impersonate trusted contacts, and trick targets into installing malware that can steal information and cryptocurrency.
Key Facts
- The FBI said FaceStealer stole more than $400 million in cryptocurrency over 18 months.
- Hackers take over messaging accounts on services including Telegram, LinkedIn, Slack and Discord to contact victims’ friends and colleagues.
- Fake video-conferencing sites imitate services such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet.
- Hackers play webcam recordings stolen from earlier victims to impersonate familiar people during calls.
- The scammers invent technical problems and direct targets to download updates, click links or run code that installs malware.
- The malware can steal information, record keystrokes and capture screenshots.
- The FBI seized computer infrastructure used in the scheme and identified more than 900 webcam recordings.
- The FBI said the hackers have also used AI-generated videos to impersonate figures in the cryptocurrency industry.
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