Microsoft seizes web domains used by North Korean hackers
In this file photo taken on November 6, 2019, attendees walk past the logo of US multinational technology company Microsoft during the Web Summit in Lisbon. Microsoft said on December 30, 2019 it obtained a court order allowing it to seize web domains used by North Korean hacking groups. PHOTO | PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA | AFP
What you need to know:
- The US technology giant said a federal court allowed it to take control of 50 domains operated by a group dubbed Thallium.
- Microsoft, which had been investigating the group through its Digital Crimes Unit and Threat Intelligence Center, said the hacking group sent spoofed emails that appeared to come from it.
- It said the emails tricked users into revealing their login credentials, a technique known as spear phishing.
Washington,
Microsoft said Monday it obtained a court order allowing it to seize web domains used by North Korean hacking groups to launch cyberattacks on human rights activists, researchers and others.
The US technology giant said a federal court allowed it to take control of 50 domains operated by a group dubbed Thallium, which tricked online users by fraudulently using Microsoft brands and trademarks.
"This network was used to target victims and then compromise their online accounts, infect their computers, compromise the security of their networks and steal sensitive information," said Tom Burt, Microsoft's vice president for customer security and trust.
"Based on victim information, the targets included government employees, think tanks, university staff members, members of organizations focused on world peace and human rights, and individuals that work on nuclear proliferation issues. Most targets were based in the US, as well as Japan and South Korea."
SPEAR PHISHING
Microsoft, which had been investigating the group through its Digital Crimes Unit and Threat Intelligence Center, said the hacking group sent spoofed emails that appeared to come from Microsoft which tricked users into revealing their login credentials, a technique known as spear phishing.
"By gathering information about the targeted individuals from social media, public personnel directories from organisations the individual is involved with and other public sources, Thallium is able to craft a personalised spear phishing email in a way that gives the email credibility to the target," Burt said.
MALICIOUS SOFTWARE
After getting the victim's credentials, the hackers can access emails, contact lists, calendar appointments and other data and often forward any new emails to the attackers.
The hackers also used malicious software which can access other data on a victim's computer.
An order from a US federal court in Virginia allowed Microsoft to take control of the domains, meaning "the sites can no longer be used to execute attacks," Burt said.
Microsoft said this was the fourth nation-state group it has acted against and follows similar moves against operations from China, Russia and Iran, dubbed Barium, Strontium and Phosphorus, respectively.
