Introduction
Hacking has become an increasingly common global threat, affecting countries and their critical infrastructure without discrimination. In recent times, North Korea has been in the spotlight for its various cyber crimes, garnering the attention of intelligence agencies, news outlets, and cybersecurity experts, all eager to discover who hacked North Korea and how it was accomplished. The task of determining who hacked North Korea and how is further complicated by the country’s ability to stay anonymous, making it almost impossible to know for certain who is responsible. This article will provide an overview of the issue, including an examination of the presented theories, the potential consequences of these activities, and important advice for those wishing to protect information from the threat of North Korean hackers.
Background of North Korea
North Korea, also known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), is an officially isolated one-party state situated between China, Russia and South Korea. North Korea is largely self-reliant and its economy is based around the export of weapons, minerals and by-products, with a significant portion of its revenue coming from illegal activities such as the trading of counterfeit currency and drugs. As a result, the country has a very small budget for its cyber security measures and is severely limited in its ability to perform activities like cyber espionage and cyber attacks.
Who Hacked North Korea?
Due to the severity of the attacks against North Korea in the past, it is often assumed by the public that these activities are the work of foreign governments. However, this is not always correct, as many of the attacks attributed to government-backed hackers have actually been from independent actors or groups looking to make a political statement. It should also be noted that while North Korea is believed to be behind some of the more serious attacks, attribution is not possible at this time.
For example, the US Department of Justice has charged North Korean hacker “Kim Il” with attempting to steal $1.3 billion from banks and other financial institutions in 2017; however, it is still not known who was behind the attack. Similarly, in 2014, North Korea was linked to a cyber attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment; however, the US government was never able to formally charge anyone in North Korea with the breach.
Potential Consequences of North Korean Hacking
A common consequence of North Korean hacking activities is the theft of sensitive data or money. Common targets for such activity include banks and other financial institutions, government organizations, universities, and corporations. In addition to these financial losses, North Korean hacking can have far-reaching political implications, as evidenced by the Sony Pictures attack in 2014. In that instance, North Korea was widely believed to be behind the attack, and the US government responded with strong economic sanctions and a total ban on North Korean nationals entering the US.
Preventative Measures
Due to the sophistication of North Korean cyber operations, experts suggest that prevention is always better than attempting to remediate after an attack has occurred. Therefore, organizations are advised to take steps to protect themselves from such threats, such as installing firewalls, applying security patches, and employing computer access controls. Furthermore, it is important for organizations to stay up-to-date on emerging threats and to monitor for signs of compromise within their networks.
The Cost of Prevention
Although preventing a North Korean cyber attack is always beneficial, there are financial and time costs associated with effective prevention. Various forms of anti-virus and malware software, as well as comprehensive staff education programs and robust security policies, must be implemented in order to protect against potential threats. Furthermore, the teams responsible for these activities must be properly staffed with individuals who are trained and knowledgeable in cyber security.
The Complexity of Attribution
It is often difficult to determine who is responsible for North Korean cyber activities. This is due in part to the complex nature of cyberspace, the lack of clear legal definitions in the international arena, and the reliance upon intelligence services and forensics investigators to make determinations about the source of a particular attack. Therefore, even if a retaliatory action is taken against a particular actor or nation, there is no guarantee that the action was in fact performed by the identified party.
Military Implications
Given the level of sophistication exhibited by North Korean hackers, there is increased global concern about their ability to gain access to critical government networks and military systems. Such activities could potentially allow North Korea to conduct espionage and gather sensitive information, or even to disrupt or disrupt military operations or launch a cyber attack against an adversary. Given the current state of geopolitics, it is essential that cyber security experts remain vigilant with regards to potential North Korean avenues of attack.
Using Sanctions as a Deterrent
Given the difficulty in attributing cyber-attacks to North Korea, sanctions may be one of the strongest deterrents to the country’s cyber activities. International organizations such as the United Nations have leveraged economic and diplomatic sanctions against North Korea in the past in an effort to dissuade the nation from engaging in activities such as cyber-espionage and data theft. Furthermore, targeted sanctions may be applied to individuals or organizations suspected of engaging in cyber activity on behalf of the North Korean government.
Conclusion of the State of Hacking
North Korea is one of the most sophisticated actors in the world when it comes to cyber operations. While it is often difficult to determine who is responsible for cyber activities coming from North Korean sources, it is important for organizations to take steps to protect themselves from potential threats. Such steps include the implementation of robust security protocols, employee education and training, and the utilization of sanctions as a deterrent. Knowledge of such topics is essential for the protection of data and financial information in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
