The US agency recommends that companies do not store information on cryptocurrency wallets and require multiple authentication factors.
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned in a note shared on X (formerly Twitter) on September 3 against attempts by hackers based in North Korea to steal cryptocurrencies.
“Are you in the cryptocurrency industry? If so, you are a target of North Korean actors who are using convincing and customized social engineering tactics to gain access to networks and steal cryptocurrency from companies,” the FBI warns.
The US federal agency has warned that hackers are conducting extensive research on companies associated with cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in an attempt to steal funds through “complex and sophisticated” social engineering campaigns.
To increase their credibility, hackers “use realistic images, including photos stolen from social media.” They may also “impersonate recruiting firms or technology companies supported by professional websites designed to make the fake entities appear legitimate,” the FBI said.
“Over the past several months, North Korean cybercriminals have conducted research on various targets related to cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs). This research included pre-operational preparations suggesting that North Korean actors may attempt malicious cyber activities against companies associated with cryptocurrency ETFs or other cryptocurrency-related financial products,” the FBI said.
FBI Tips for Protecting Yourself
The FBI then gives several tips in its note to companies to protect themselves:
- do not store information about cryptocurrency wallets
- require multiple authentication factors
- prevent devices connected to the corporate network from downloading or running files
- disable email attachments by default
According to a report by Chainalysis, published on August 15, crypto thefts have exploded since the beginning of the year. The cumulative value stolen until the end of July has already reached $1.58 billion, an increase of 84.4% compared to the value stolen during the same period last year.
