Binance says hackers used fake job interviews in $6.3 billion crypto theft
Suspected North Korean attackers reportedly used a bogus interview and a malicious download to get into the exchange's systems.
Key facts
Story- Binance says hackers stole about $6.34 billion in crypto assets from its systems.
- An engineer was approached on a job site and taken through fake interviews, Binance said.
- Binance says it has replenished 98% of the affected assets.
Binance says hackers stole about $6.34 billion in crypto assets after tricking one of its engineers. The crypto exchange issued a security report on Tuesday, 3 November, describing the attack.
The engineer was approached through a well-known job-hunting platform. The person behind the approach then set up interviews with supposed representatives of a company. Binance said a malicious download during that process gave the attackers a way into the firm's systems. Binance co-CEO Richard Teng said the hackers also used an AI tool in the operation.
Binance said suspected North Korean attackers were behind the theft. The exchange said it has replenished 98% of the affected assets.
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The attack relied on social engineering, a method that targets people rather than software. By posing as recruiters, the attackers got an employee to run a file that opened a route into the company's network. Once inside, they were able to move assets out of the system.
The case adds to a series of large crypto thefts linked to North Korean groups in recent years. Security researchers have repeatedly said such groups use fake job offers to target technology workers.
Binance has not said that customer accounts were drawn from, and it has not said how the remaining 2% of assets will be recovered.
Binance has not said when the investigation will be complete or whether any arrests have been made.
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