Science & Tech · Cybersecurity · 39 mins ago
North Korea’s hacker programme trains students for major cyber thefts
North Korea has built a programme to train young computer specialists, some of whom later become hackers.
For more than a decade, the programme has selected about 200 high-performing middle-school students each year for computer engineering studies.
Defectors and analysts say only some go on to work as hackers, and the government rewards top performers with apartments in the capital and large cash awards.
North Korean hackers have been blamed for a record $6.3-billion theft from cryptocurrency exchange Binance.
Their operations reportedly developed from illegal gambling websites into large-scale cyber theft, making them a major concern for cryptocurrency businesses.
The accounts do not say what action, if any, will follow the Binance attack.
North Korea’s programme selects 200 of its brightest middle school students each year to study computer engineering, according to defectors and analysts.
The programme is more than a decade old and has produced hackers blamed for some of the world’s largest cyber thefts.
A record-breaking US$6.3-billion attack on cryptocurrency exchange Binance was among the heists cited in the reports.
The programme evolved from operating illegal gambling websites to carrying out major cyber thefts.
Top hackers are reportedly rewarded with spacious apartments in the capital and large hard-currency awards.
- Who
- North Korea’s hacker programme, led by Kim Jong-un, recruits students and develops some into hackers.
- What
- The programme trains computer engineers, some of whom later carry out major cyber thefts.
- When
- It has operated for more than a decade and selects students each year. The reported Binance heist took place last month.
- Where
- North Korea; top hackers are reportedly offered apartments in the capital.
- Why
- The programme identifies and trains talented students for hacking work. A broader motive is Not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
North Korea’s hacker programme was already being developed, according to the reports.
The programme selects 200 of the smartest middle school students to study computer engineering.
The group operated illegal gambling websites.
North Korean hackers were blamed for a US$6.3-billion attack on cryptocurrency exchange Binance.
- Annual intake
- 200 middle school students
- Programme age
- More than a decade
- Reported Binance attack
- US$6.3 billion
- Reported rewards
- Spacious apartments in the capital and large hard-currency awards