The owner of the controlling stake in the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, Binance, Changpeng Zhao, issued a warning to crypto companies, urging them to stop viewing hackers from North Korea as a minor threat.

According to Zhao, North Korean hackers are using increasingly effective methods to infiltrate the personnel of companies working with cryptocurrencies.

“Just a few months ago, a large outsourcing company in India was hacked, and user data from a major American exchange was stolen. This led to asset losses of over $400 million,” the businessman reported.

He shared with colleagues several key tactics employed by North Korean hackers:

• fake candidates for positions — scammers are mass submitting resumes for vacancies in the fields of blockchain and crypto investments;

• interview traps — hackers pose as employers, sending candidates links containing viruses disguised as 'updates' during online interviews;

• bribing contractors and employees of companies using digital assets in their activities;

• spreading malicious links to support services — cybercriminals disguise themselves as clients, leaving requests with links containing ransomware viruses.

Crypto businessmen must spend significant funds on employee training, thoroughly vet applicants, and prohibit the uploading of suspicious files. North Korean hackers are advanced and very patient; they cannot be ignored, Zhao concluded.

Previously, blockchain detective under the pseudonym ZachXBT stated that North Korean hackers are not as omnipotent as commonly believed. Their attacks can be prevented by using standard security measures of crypto projects.