The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    BLACKPINK Jennie's 'Solo' music video hits record high 900 mil. YouTube views

  • 3

    Japanese students' field trips to Korea resume after pandemic hiatus

  • 5

    Lotte desperate to win LVMH Chairman Arnault's heart

  • 7

    President Yoon refutes criticism of fence-mending summit with Japan

  • 9

    Apple Pay service starts in Korea

  • 11

    Kwon Sang-woo's new series to stream on Disney+ this year

  • 13

    Busan to have alternate no-driving days during Expo inspection

  • 15

    Osstem Implant to invite 1,500 dentists from 22 countries for training

  • 17

    VIDEOMiracle rescue of 200 dogs caged for dog meat

  • 19

    From sky to deserted islands, two artists' documentation of nature adds surreal touch to reality

  • 2

    Lee Se-young to lead MBC's new series 'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract'

  • 4

    Possibly next SOHO, Seoul selects 5 neighborhoods for new signature 'K-alleys'

  • 6

    Kakao criticized for half-baked AI chatbot

  • 8

    INTERVIEW'The Flag': Kwon Jin-ah's love letter to people chasing their dreams

  • 10

    US report voices concerns over S. Korea's press freedom

  • 12

    LVMH allegedly joins takeover bid to acquire Missha

  • 14

    Shinhan, Woori shine in overseas business

  • 16

    Korean startup Innospace announces successful test launch of space vehicle HANBIT-TLV

  • 18

    MZ generation-led unions flex muscle across board

  • 20

    Floating pool development: new excuse to get your swimming outfit ready for Han River

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
North Korea
Thu, March 23, 2023 | 00:38
North Korea attempted to hack into COVID-19 vaccine developers data
Posted : 2020-11-03 15:44
Updated : 2020-11-03 18:06
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
'Kimsuky,' a North Korean cyber espionage group, has led a string of operations to hack into international organizations including pharmaceutical companies developing COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, according to a U.S. cyber security company, Monday. / gettyimagebanks
"Kimsuky," a North Korean cyber espionage group, has led a string of operations to hack into international organizations including pharmaceutical companies developing COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, according to a U.S. cyber security company, Monday. / gettyimagebanks

By Park Han-sol

A North Korean cyber espionage group has attempted to hack into multiple international organizations including companies working on COVID-19 vaccines with a new form of malware, according to a U.S. cyber security firm.

In a threat alert published Monday, Boston-based Cybereason identified previously undiscovered spyware used by "Kimsuky," a presumably state-operated hacking group in North Korea since 2012, to carry out global intelligence gathering operations. Spyware refers to malicious software that can be used to track and steal information about and from internet users.

Cybereason explained the newly found malware and infrastructure shared similar features and had been linked to the same IP address as another piece of malware employed by Kimsuky in the past called BabyShark that targeted U.S. think tanks.

The regime's espionage group was seen targeting a range of government entities and private sector companies in not only South Korea but also the U.S., Europe, Russia and Japan. Notably, these included pharmaceutical companies working on the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines, according to Cybereason.

The group's other targets included the Ministry of Unification, the United Nations Security Council and even journalists covering inter-Korean relations, the report said.

Considering that North Korea's cyberattacks aim at not only gathering classfied military information but also generating financial profits, trade suspensions due to COVID-19 as well as economic sanctions may lead to an increase in the regime's cyber operations, research analyst Mathew Ha of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies said in an interview with Radio Free Asia.


Emailhansolp@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG Group
Top 10 Stories
1Korean firms balk at donating to fund compensating victims of Japan's forced laborKorean firms balk at donating to fund compensating victims of Japan's forced labor
2Outback Steakhouse sees sales soar as it opens stores in large shopping malls Outback Steakhouse sees sales soar as it opens stores in large shopping malls
3Main opposition leader indicted, faces calls to resignMain opposition leader indicted, faces calls to resign
4World water day World water day
5Sexual assaults by Korean diplomats continue despite zero-tolerance policy Sexual assaults by Korean diplomats continue despite zero-tolerance policy
6[INTERVIEW] Retired FSC chief finds inspiration exploring Koreans' ancestral roots INTERVIEWRetired FSC chief finds inspiration exploring Koreans' ancestral roots
7Autistic golfer appointed as ambassador of veterans ministry-affiliated country club Autistic golfer appointed as ambassador of veterans ministry-affiliated country club
8Korean pension fund hit by overseas banking crisis Korean pension fund hit by overseas banking crisis
9Consumers choose to travel abroad over purchasing luxury goods Consumers choose to travel abroad over purchasing luxury goods
10Investment banks compete for HMM sale advisory roles Investment banks compete for HMM sale advisory roles
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Lee Se-young to lead MBC's new series 'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract' Lee Se-young to lead MBC's new series 'The Story of Park's Marriage Contract'
2[INTERVIEW] 'The Flag': Kwon Jin-ah's love letter to people chasing their dreams INTERVIEW'The Flag': Kwon Jin-ah's love letter to people chasing their dreams
3Kwon Sang-woo's new series to stream on Disney+ this year Kwon Sang-woo's new series to stream on Disney+ this year
4From sky to deserted islands, two artists' documentation of nature adds surreal touch to reality From sky to deserted islands, two artists' documentation of nature adds surreal touch to reality
5'Kill Boksoon' star Jeon Do-yeon talks about why she signed up without reading script 'Kill Boksoon' star Jeon Do-yeon talks about why she signed up without reading script
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group