Today : E010-2024 Cyberium Podcast - North Korean Cyber Operatives Tied to Unsuccessful Extortion Plot Against US Corporations - https://technocratico.it/
PODCAST IN ENGLISH : https://technocratico.it/cyberium-podcast/
In each episode, we dive into articles published on technocratico.it by Raffaele Di Marzio or explore his reflections brought to life through AI analysis and techniques, powered by Gemini Pro, which present in-depth discussions in English, explaining the topics in a simple and concise manner. Our mission is to reveal, in a straightforward yet precise way, how technology influences every aspect of our personal and professional lives. Whether you're a tech industry professional seeking expert insights or a curious listener wanting to understand how digital security impacts your daily life, Cyberium is your gateway to comprehending the holistic influence of technology, offering a unique perspective thanks to the integration of cutting-edge AI analysis.
Tune in to gain valuable perspectives and stay ahead in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
All reproductions rights are reserved by Cyberium Media Miami Productions and Technocratico.it
Content creator : Raffaele DI MARZIO https://www.linkedin.com/in/raffaeledimarzio/
For inquiries, you can reach us at podcast@cyberium.media.
PODCAST IN ENGLISH : https://technocratico.it/cyberium-podcast/
In each episode, we dive into articles published on technocratico.it by Raffaele Di Marzio or explore his reflections brought to life through AI analysis and techniques, powered by Gemini Pro, which present in-depth discussions in English, explaining the topics in a simple and concise manner. Our mission is to reveal, in a straightforward yet precise way, how technology influences every aspect of our personal and professional lives. Whether you're a tech industry professional seeking expert insights or a curious listener wanting to understand how digital security impacts your daily life, Cyberium is your gateway to comprehending the holistic influence of technology, offering a unique perspective thanks to the integration of cutting-edge AI analysis.
Tune in to gain valuable perspectives and stay ahead in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
All reproductions rights are reserved by Cyberium Media Miami Productions and Technocratico.it
Content creator : Raffaele DI MARZIO https://www.linkedin.com/in/raffaeledimarzio/
For inquiries, you can reach us at podcast@cyberium.media.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to Siberian. Here, technology and cybersecurity are made simple
for everyone. Whether you're a tech geek or just curious
about the digital world, We've got you covered. Each episode
we dive into the latest topics from technocratico dot it
and break them down so you can stay informed and protected.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
This is a.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Siberian Media Miami production. Let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
The scab and gulcious flame make us a blood peg
fame to love it to fucking honess see ourselves.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
And remember this.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
All right, Sogo that we're diving into a story about
North Korean hackers today. But I'm before you click away thinking, oh,
another hacking story.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
This one's got layers, Trust me, it does.
Speaker 6 (00:58):
We're looking at Indial, a group that usually sets their
sites on military secrets, but this time they tried something
very different, something that has everyone in cybersecurity on edge.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
See you told you interesting, right, So for those unfamiliar
and Dariel, also known as Stonefly.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
Is like North Korea's elite hacking squad. We're talking seriously
high profile operations.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Here and now they're dabbling in ransomware exactly.
Speaker 6 (01:22):
Nkpro a new site that specializes in North Korea dropped
this bombshell report on October third. Back in August, and
Dariel tried to hit several American companies with ransomware. Essentially,
they tried to hold data hostage for money.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
Okay, hold up, this is where it gets really fascinating.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
They're known for digital espionage, stealing military secrets, not this
smash and grab ransomware tactic.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
What changed?
Speaker 6 (01:48):
That's the million dollar question, isn't it. And this is
where the story takes an even more intriguing turn. You see,
these attacks were unsuccessful.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Wait what They tried to pull off a ransomware scheme
and it flopped. That doesn't sound like the end We've
come to a fear.
Speaker 6 (02:01):
Precisely, Samantech, the cybersecurity firm that uncovered this, is saying
the attacks were a bust. And that just makes it
all the more curious.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
You're telling me.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
And Dariel is known for sophisticated high stakes operations.
Speaker 5 (02:13):
Remember the Sony Pictures hack back in twenty fourteen, right.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
The Interview Incident, a comedy film about assassinating Kim Jong
un and Dariel, or at least hackers widely believed to
be North Korean stole and leaked a trove sensitive data.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
From Sony Pictures.
Speaker 6 (02:29):
It was a huge embarrassment for Sony executives and threw
Hollywood into a frenzy.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
You know, it's easy to dismiss that as Hollywood drama,
but that whole thing was a real wake up call.
It showed the world how disruptive these cyber attacks could be.
So if they can pull up something that big, why
even bother with this ransomware thing, especially if they're seemingly
not even that good at it.
Speaker 6 (02:47):
Well, nkpro did point out that this attempted attack came
just a month after the US Justice Department announced indictments
against three North Korean computer programmers for their alleged rolls
and a bunch of cyber attacks, including some attributed to Andario.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
So maybe it was retaliation for the indictments. Wait to
send a message.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
It's possible, but there might be more to it than that.
Speaker 6 (03:09):
Remember, North Korea has been under some pretty heavy international
sanctions for years because of its nuclear weapons program. These
sanctions are designed to squeeze their economy and force them
to the negotiating table.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
And could those sanctions be pushing them to get desperate
for cash?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
That's a leading theory.
Speaker 6 (03:26):
You see, sanctions have seriously crippled North Korea's economy. They're
basically cut off from international trade and financial systems, so
they've been turning to increasingly shady ways to make money, like,
for example, cryptocurrency.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
Theft, cyberheists. I guess it's not that surprising given their
track record.
Speaker 6 (03:42):
And this is where that Investipedia article you mentioned comes
into play. It highlighted how cybercrime, especially ransomwhare, has become
a lucrative business, impacting companies of all sizes, and for
a regime like North Korea that's desperate for cash, it
makes a certain twisted kind of sense.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Okay, But if SAgs are pushing them to these lengths,
and this ransomware attempt was financially motivated, why do it fail?
If they're going to resort to something like this, wouldn't
they want to make.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
Sure it works.
Speaker 6 (04:11):
That's the thing about Andariel, they're professionals. It's highly unlikely
they just fumbled this. Yeah, which leads us to another theory.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
This ransomware attempt, successful or not.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
Could have been a test run, a test run for.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
What think about it?
Speaker 6 (04:25):
And Dariel usually goes after military secrets. What if they're
now scoping out businesses, maybe even critical infrastructure to see
how vulnerable they are.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Oh wow, you're talking power grids, hospitals, the stuff that
keeps the country running.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
Now that's scary stuff.
Speaker 6 (04:40):
And there's precedent for this. Remember the WannaCry ransomware attack
in twenty eighteen. It crippled systems worldwide, including hospitals in
the UK. It was a real wake up call about
how vulnerable our critical infrastructure is to these kinds of attacks.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
And you're saying, and Dariel could be thinking even bigger
than WannaCry.
Speaker 6 (04:57):
Possibly we're not just talking about financial disruption here, but
potentially something far more devastating. I think back to that
twenty twenty one article on the four to twenty dot end.
They laid out all the nightmare scenarios of attacks.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
On critical infrastructure.
Speaker 6 (05:10):
What if this ransomware attempt was Adam and Daryl dipping
their toes into that pool, testing the waters.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
This is all starting to sound less like a cash
grab and more like a reconnaissance mission exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
And that's what makes this whole thing so unsettling.
Speaker 6 (05:22):
Even though the ransomware attacks failed, they might be a
sign of something much bigger, something more audacious, to come.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
Some more than just money.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
We could be talking about a show of force, or
maybe even a precursor to something way more destructive.
Speaker 6 (05:36):
You're catching on, now, Let's not forget this is in
Dariel we're talking about. They're not just some random hackers.
They're directly tied to the North Korean government. And this
is where it gets really interesting.
Speaker 5 (05:46):
Okay, I'm hooked, tell me more.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Well.
Speaker 6 (05:48):
Back in twenty eighteen, the Foundation for Defensive Democracies, which
is a pretty well respected think tank, released a report
where they described Kim John UM's cyber forces, including groups
like and Dariel, as an all purpose sword.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
And all purpose sword that sounds pretty intense.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
It is.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
What they meant was that these cyber capabilities weren't just
about stealing money or causing little mayhem. They could be
used for espionage, for disrupting economies, and even for launching
crippling attacks on critical infrastructure.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
So this failed ransomware attempt could be just the tip
of the iceberg, a sign that North Korea is getting bolder,
more unpredictable in how it chooses to wield its cyber
capabilities precisely.
Speaker 6 (06:29):
And that's the really concerning part here. This incident, even
though it seems somewhat insignificant on the surface, could very
well be a harbinger of things to come.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
So what does this all mean for us? For everyday people?
Are we all just sitting ducks in a digital battlefield?
Speaker 6 (06:44):
It's not quite as dire as all that, But this
incident should be a wake up call for businesses and
governments around the world.
Speaker 5 (06:50):
A wake up call to do what exactly.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Well.
Speaker 6 (06:52):
For one, we need to be doing a much better
job of securing our critical infrastructure against these kinds of attacks.
We need stronger defenses, better intelligence sharing, and a more
coordinated response to these kinds of threats.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
So basically, we need to step up our cybersecurity game
and fast, exactly.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
And this is something that everyone has a role to
play in, from governments and corporations down to individual users.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
So it's not just about building stronger firewalls anymore. It's
about understanding that this new breed of cyber threat is
about more than just stealing data. It's about potential chaos
and disruption on a massive scale.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
Exactly, And it highlights a crucial point cybersecurity isn't just
a tech issue anymore. It's a matter of national and
global security, and that's.
Speaker 5 (07:36):
A conversation everyone needs to be a part of. We
can't just sit.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Back and wait for governments or tech companies to solve
this for us.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Absolutely, we all have a role to play. Businesses need
to prioritize cybersecurity, individuals need to be more aware of
the risks, and governments need to cooperate on a global
scale to deter these kinds of attacks.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
Because, let's face it, in this digital age, a cyber
attack on one is potentially a cyber attack on all
of us.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
It's all interconnect did That's.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
The reality we face, And this in darial incident, as
concerning as it is, might actually be a blessing in disguise.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
A blessing how so, well.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
It's a wake up call.
Speaker 6 (08:10):
It gives us a chance to learn, adapt, and strengthen
our defenses before a truly catastrophic attack occurs. It forces
us to confront this evolving thread head on.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
Okay, that's a slightly less terrifying way to look at it.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
But this failed ransomware attempt, as strange as it seems,
might be our best opportunity to understand North Korea's evolving cyber.
Speaker 6 (08:27):
Strategy precisely, and to prepare for a future where even
a failed attack could have serious consequences.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
We need to be ready for anything.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Wow, what a thought to end on This deep dive
has been eye opening to say the least. It really
highlights how crucial cybersecurity is in our increasingly digital world.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
Couldn't agree more so to our listeners.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
We'll leave you with this, how do you think we
should be preparing for this new era of cyber threats,
especially from actors like North Korea who seem to be
rewriting the playbook. It's a question worth pondering, that's for sure.
This has been the deep Dive.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Until next time, sound Satan alongs full results. Who Are
You Going to Cross?
Speaker 6 (09:13):
All reproduction rights are reserved by Siberian Media, Miami Production
and Technocratico dot it.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
For inquiries, you can reach us at podcast at Siberium
dot media.
Welcome to Siberian. Here, technology and cybersecurity are made simple
for everyone. Whether you're a tech geek or just curious
about the digital world, We've got you covered. Each episode
we dive into the latest topics from technocratico dot it
and break them down so you can stay informed and protected.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
This is a.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Siberian Media Miami production. Let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
The scab and gulcious flame make us a blood peg
fame to love it to fucking honess see ourselves.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
And remember this.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
All right, Sogo that we're diving into a story about
North Korean hackers today. But I'm before you click away thinking, oh,
another hacking story.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
This one's got layers, Trust me, it does.
Speaker 6 (00:58):
We're looking at Indial, a group that usually sets their
sites on military secrets, but this time they tried something
very different, something that has everyone in cybersecurity on edge.
Speaker 4 (01:07):
See you told you interesting, right, So for those unfamiliar
and Dariel, also known as Stonefly.
Speaker 5 (01:13):
Is like North Korea's elite hacking squad. We're talking seriously
high profile operations.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Here and now they're dabbling in ransomware exactly.
Speaker 6 (01:22):
Nkpro a new site that specializes in North Korea dropped
this bombshell report on October third. Back in August, and
Dariel tried to hit several American companies with ransomware. Essentially,
they tried to hold data hostage for money.
Speaker 5 (01:35):
Okay, hold up, this is where it gets really fascinating.
Speaker 4 (01:39):
They're known for digital espionage, stealing military secrets, not this
smash and grab ransomware tactic.
Speaker 5 (01:47):
What changed?
Speaker 6 (01:48):
That's the million dollar question, isn't it. And this is
where the story takes an even more intriguing turn. You see,
these attacks were unsuccessful.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Wait what They tried to pull off a ransomware scheme
and it flopped. That doesn't sound like the end We've
come to a fear.
Speaker 6 (02:01):
Precisely, Samantech, the cybersecurity firm that uncovered this, is saying
the attacks were a bust. And that just makes it
all the more curious.
Speaker 5 (02:08):
You're telling me.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
And Dariel is known for sophisticated high stakes operations.
Speaker 5 (02:13):
Remember the Sony Pictures hack back in twenty fourteen, right.
Speaker 6 (02:16):
The Interview Incident, a comedy film about assassinating Kim Jong
un and Dariel, or at least hackers widely believed to
be North Korean stole and leaked a trove sensitive data.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
From Sony Pictures.
Speaker 6 (02:29):
It was a huge embarrassment for Sony executives and threw
Hollywood into a frenzy.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
You know, it's easy to dismiss that as Hollywood drama,
but that whole thing was a real wake up call.
It showed the world how disruptive these cyber attacks could be.
So if they can pull up something that big, why
even bother with this ransomware thing, especially if they're seemingly
not even that good at it.
Speaker 6 (02:47):
Well, nkpro did point out that this attempted attack came
just a month after the US Justice Department announced indictments
against three North Korean computer programmers for their alleged rolls
and a bunch of cyber attacks, including some attributed to Andario.
Speaker 5 (03:02):
So maybe it was retaliation for the indictments. Wait to
send a message.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
It's possible, but there might be more to it than that.
Speaker 6 (03:09):
Remember, North Korea has been under some pretty heavy international
sanctions for years because of its nuclear weapons program. These
sanctions are designed to squeeze their economy and force them
to the negotiating table.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
And could those sanctions be pushing them to get desperate
for cash?
Speaker 3 (03:25):
That's a leading theory.
Speaker 6 (03:26):
You see, sanctions have seriously crippled North Korea's economy. They're
basically cut off from international trade and financial systems, so
they've been turning to increasingly shady ways to make money, like,
for example, cryptocurrency.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
Theft, cyberheists. I guess it's not that surprising given their
track record.
Speaker 6 (03:42):
And this is where that Investipedia article you mentioned comes
into play. It highlighted how cybercrime, especially ransomwhare, has become
a lucrative business, impacting companies of all sizes, and for
a regime like North Korea that's desperate for cash, it
makes a certain twisted kind of sense.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Okay, But if SAgs are pushing them to these lengths,
and this ransomware attempt was financially motivated, why do it fail?
If they're going to resort to something like this, wouldn't
they want to make.
Speaker 5 (04:09):
Sure it works.
Speaker 6 (04:11):
That's the thing about Andariel, they're professionals. It's highly unlikely
they just fumbled this. Yeah, which leads us to another theory.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
This ransomware attempt, successful or not.
Speaker 5 (04:21):
Could have been a test run, a test run for.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
What think about it?
Speaker 6 (04:25):
And Dariel usually goes after military secrets. What if they're
now scoping out businesses, maybe even critical infrastructure to see
how vulnerable they are.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Oh wow, you're talking power grids, hospitals, the stuff that
keeps the country running.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
Now that's scary stuff.
Speaker 6 (04:40):
And there's precedent for this. Remember the WannaCry ransomware attack
in twenty eighteen. It crippled systems worldwide, including hospitals in
the UK. It was a real wake up call about
how vulnerable our critical infrastructure is to these kinds of attacks.
Speaker 4 (04:53):
And you're saying, and Dariel could be thinking even bigger
than WannaCry.
Speaker 6 (04:57):
Possibly we're not just talking about financial disruption here, but
potentially something far more devastating. I think back to that
twenty twenty one article on the four to twenty dot end.
They laid out all the nightmare scenarios of attacks.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
On critical infrastructure.
Speaker 6 (05:10):
What if this ransomware attempt was Adam and Daryl dipping
their toes into that pool, testing the waters.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
This is all starting to sound less like a cash
grab and more like a reconnaissance mission exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
And that's what makes this whole thing so unsettling.
Speaker 6 (05:22):
Even though the ransomware attacks failed, they might be a
sign of something much bigger, something more audacious, to come.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
Some more than just money.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
We could be talking about a show of force, or
maybe even a precursor to something way more destructive.
Speaker 6 (05:36):
You're catching on, now, Let's not forget this is in
Dariel we're talking about. They're not just some random hackers.
They're directly tied to the North Korean government. And this
is where it gets really interesting.
Speaker 5 (05:46):
Okay, I'm hooked, tell me more.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Well.
Speaker 6 (05:48):
Back in twenty eighteen, the Foundation for Defensive Democracies, which
is a pretty well respected think tank, released a report
where they described Kim John UM's cyber forces, including groups
like and Dariel, as an all purpose sword.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
And all purpose sword that sounds pretty intense.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
It is.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
What they meant was that these cyber capabilities weren't just
about stealing money or causing little mayhem. They could be
used for espionage, for disrupting economies, and even for launching
crippling attacks on critical infrastructure.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
So this failed ransomware attempt could be just the tip
of the iceberg, a sign that North Korea is getting bolder,
more unpredictable in how it chooses to wield its cyber
capabilities precisely.
Speaker 6 (06:29):
And that's the really concerning part here. This incident, even
though it seems somewhat insignificant on the surface, could very
well be a harbinger of things to come.
Speaker 5 (06:38):
So what does this all mean for us? For everyday people?
Are we all just sitting ducks in a digital battlefield?
Speaker 6 (06:44):
It's not quite as dire as all that, But this
incident should be a wake up call for businesses and
governments around the world.
Speaker 5 (06:50):
A wake up call to do what exactly.
Speaker 4 (06:52):
Well.
Speaker 6 (06:52):
For one, we need to be doing a much better
job of securing our critical infrastructure against these kinds of attacks.
We need stronger defenses, better intelligence sharing, and a more
coordinated response to these kinds of threats.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
So basically, we need to step up our cybersecurity game
and fast, exactly.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
And this is something that everyone has a role to
play in, from governments and corporations down to individual users.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
So it's not just about building stronger firewalls anymore. It's
about understanding that this new breed of cyber threat is
about more than just stealing data. It's about potential chaos
and disruption on a massive scale.
Speaker 6 (07:28):
Exactly, And it highlights a crucial point cybersecurity isn't just
a tech issue anymore. It's a matter of national and
global security, and that's.
Speaker 5 (07:36):
A conversation everyone needs to be a part of. We
can't just sit.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
Back and wait for governments or tech companies to solve
this for us.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Absolutely, we all have a role to play. Businesses need
to prioritize cybersecurity, individuals need to be more aware of
the risks, and governments need to cooperate on a global
scale to deter these kinds of attacks.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
Because, let's face it, in this digital age, a cyber
attack on one is potentially a cyber attack on all
of us.
Speaker 5 (07:59):
It's all interconnect did That's.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
The reality we face, And this in darial incident, as
concerning as it is, might actually be a blessing in disguise.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
A blessing how so, well.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
It's a wake up call.
Speaker 6 (08:10):
It gives us a chance to learn, adapt, and strengthen
our defenses before a truly catastrophic attack occurs. It forces
us to confront this evolving thread head on.
Speaker 5 (08:19):
Okay, that's a slightly less terrifying way to look at it.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
But this failed ransomware attempt, as strange as it seems,
might be our best opportunity to understand North Korea's evolving cyber.
Speaker 6 (08:27):
Strategy precisely, and to prepare for a future where even
a failed attack could have serious consequences.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
We need to be ready for anything.
Speaker 4 (08:37):
Wow, what a thought to end on This deep dive
has been eye opening to say the least. It really
highlights how crucial cybersecurity is in our increasingly digital world.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
Couldn't agree more so to our listeners.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
We'll leave you with this, how do you think we
should be preparing for this new era of cyber threats,
especially from actors like North Korea who seem to be
rewriting the playbook. It's a question worth pondering, that's for sure.
This has been the deep Dive.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Until next time, sound Satan alongs full results. Who Are
You Going to Cross?
Speaker 6 (09:13):
All reproduction rights are reserved by Siberian Media, Miami Production
and Technocratico dot it.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
For inquiries, you can reach us at podcast at Siberium
dot media.
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