04 Aug 2011
South Korean gang hired North Korean hackers to attack gamers
South Korean law enforcement officers recently arrested members of a criminal organization who recruited North Korean hackers to attack a popular online gaming network.South Korean authorities say a group of South Koreans hired 30 graduates of an elite North Korean university to hack into an online gaming network and steal user information to create avatars. These virtual identities were then sold to players looking to improve their game results.
The North Korean hackers reportedly operated from a base in China, where their South Korean employers paid their living expenses. They also received a cut of the revenue from the scheme, which Agence France Presse reports has netted the criminals $6.02 million since June 2009.
South Korea will not pursue the North Korean hackers in China, according to Reuters.
A security researcher recently announced a massive malware attack has infiltrated more than 70 organizations worldwide since 2006, including government agencies, military contractors, Olympic committees and computer security firms. South Korea was a prime target in these attacks, which experts surmise was masterminded by China.