Hackers behind $6.3bn Binance heist ‘used malware and bogus job interviews’

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1. 2h ago

   Hackers Use Fake Job Interviews in Record $6.3B Binance Heist

   Hackers stole $6.3 billion in cryptocurrency from Binance after tricking a company engineer with bogus job interviews and malware. Binance co-CEO Richard Teng confirmed that attackers spent weeks posing as recruiters and executives on LinkedIn before convincing the employee to download malicious software onto a work computer. Following the breach, Binance saw more than $4.6 billion in withdrawals. According to a security report issued by the exchange, Binance has already replenished 98% of the affected assets.

   Why it matters

   This incident stands as the largest crypto hack in history, dealing a severe blow to digital asset security and prompting massive customer withdrawals. The attack highlights a growing trend of social engineering operations targeting corporate employees through professional networking platforms. Security analysts have attributed the operation to North Korean hackers.

   What is confirmed

   • Hackers stole $6.34 billion in crypto assets from Binance in the largest crypto hack in history.
   • Attackers used LinkedIn and fake job interviews to trick a Binance engineer into installing malware.
   • Binance co-CEO Richard Teng stated that hackers used fake job interviews and an AI tool in the heist.
   • Binance experienced more than $4.6 billion in withdrawals after the security breach.
   • Binance has replenished 98% of the affected assets, according to a security report issued by the exchange.

   Still unconfirmed

   • North Korea orchestrated the LinkedIn job interview scheme used to compromise the Binance engineer.

   What to watch next

   • Official law enforcement or intelligence reports confirming the identity of the threat actors
   • Further disclosures from Binance regarding system security upgrades and recovery of remaining funds
   Sources used for this update (17)

   1. www.theguardian.com — AI godfather Geoffrey Hinton: ‘We’re creating alien beings. I’m willing to be selfish and choose humans’ | Donald Trump
   2. Yahoo Finance — Binance sees more than $4.6 billion in withdrawals after largest crypto hack in history
   3. Fortune — North Korea used LinkedIn, fake job interviews to trick Binance engineer in $6.3 billion hack
   4. CNBC — Binance co-CEO Richard Teng says hackers used fake job interviews, AI tool to steal $6.3 billion in crypto
   5. Reuters — Binance hackers used fake job interview to compromise computer before $6.3 billion attack
   6. The Guardian — Hackers behind $6.3bn Binance heist ‘used malware and bogus job interviews’
   7. Business Insider — Binance says hackers used fake job interviews to pull off a $6 billion crypto heist
   8. Axios — That dream job offer might be from a North Korean hacker
   9. The Washington Post — How malware and a bogus job interview let attackers nab $6.3B from Binance
   10. NPR — A Binance engineer thought he was interviewing for a job. Then the hackers pounced
   11. Bloomberg.com — Restarting the Pro-Crypto Agenda After a Record-Breaking Hack
   12. Yahoo Finance — Fake job interviews helped hackers pull off Binance’s record crypto heist
   confidence 95%