Binance says fake job interviews used as part of $6.3bn crypto hack
An engineer was contacted through a legitimate job-hunting platform and invited to bogus job interviews with fake company representatives, Binance says.
Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, disclosed that hackers stole $6.3 billion from its platform using a multi-stage attack involving fake job interviews and a compromised internal AI tool. The sophisticated attack began with social engineering techniques, such as phishing, to trick engineers into divulging sensitive information.
One engineer was invited to fake job interviews and instructed to download malware disguised as an assignment. This malware, combined with a compromised AI tool, enabled hackers to gain control over two other engineers' laptops and execute the attack. Binance suspended withdrawals globally, causing significant disruption to users.
The company has apologized for the incident and is working with law enforcement to trace and freeze affected assets, while setting aside funds to cover the loss. US agencies, including the FBI and Secret Service, are also assisting Binance in tracing the stolen crypto. North Korea has been accused of orchestrating the hack, a claim the country denies.
Binance plans to invest in AI tools to detect security threats, engage third-party cyber experts for a full-scale review, and establish a security research fund.
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