Quit Blaming North Korea for Everything

If there is a sophisticated and artistic cyber crime occurring, police force enforcement is likely to blame North Korea. Just look at the recent WannaCry ransomware scheme, the $100 one thousand thousand People's republic of bangladesh Banking concern heist in 2022, or the 2022 Sony Pictures hack.

Opinions These crimes are and then loftier-end, though, that it'due south incommunicable to imagine the North Koreans—who do not have robust admission to the internet or a serious hacking culture—could accomplish any of this. Yet, they are to blame, according to news headlines.

A May 23 BBC News headline, for instance, said there was "more evidence" of a link between WannaCry and North Korea, citing Symantec and a group known every bit the Lazarus Group, which was blamed for the Sony and Bangladesh Banking company hacks.

Only the BBC also notes that "Symantec added that the character of the attack suggested it had not been carried out on behalf of North Korea. Rather than being a nation-land entrada, it said, information technology looked more like a 'typical' cyber-crime entrada that sought to enrich its operators."

Actually? Then what's with the headline? In a police state like Democratic people's republic of korea, can a rogue hacking operation similar this exist?

Some other story said North Korean hackers were "highly likely" to have carried out WannaCry. It too, however, noted that "the WannaCry attack may not exist orchestrated by the N Korean government" and that "hackers may have acted on their ain for financial gains."

In terms of the SWIFT heist, hackers were attempting to steal a absurd billion from the Bangladesh Bank and funnel it through outlets in Sri Lanka (where most of it was recovered) and some Philippine casinos (where it was successfully taken). At least $81 one thousand thousand in the funds has been tracked by investigators. It remains one of the most successful heists in history.

This has the earmarks of the organized crime networks of Eastern Europe; Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria immediately come to heed. The proper name itself has Orthodox Christian connotations. Lazarus Grouping? Why would a N Korean hacking group employ such a proper name? It's ridiculous.

The more conspiratorial readers might desire to arraign the American, British, or even Russian intelligence operations, but this makes petty sense. The People's republic of bangladesh Bank was known for being the bank of the poor, so information technology would be bad form to rob them. And using a Philippine casino as a go-between sounds more like organized crime to me. Information technology'southward all nigh the milieu. How do the insular N Koreans figure this out? They are not in this kind of casino life. They accept goose egg to do with...anything.

We are behing the N Korea finger pointing, however. Instead of actually tracing the source, nosotros arraign the hermit kingdom. Then if these hackers target your machine for some ransomware demand, likewise bad for you lot. You are on your ain. Shake your fist at Democratic people's republic of korea.

Nigh John C. Dvorak

John C. Dvorak

John C. Dvorak is a columnist for PCMag.com and the co-host of the twice weekly podcast, the No Agenda Show. His piece of work is licensed effectually the world. Previously a columnist for Forbes, PC/Computing, Computer Shopper, MacUser, Barrons, the DEC Professional besides every bit other newspapers and magazines. Former editor and consulting editor for InfoWorld, he also appeared in the New York Times, LA Times, Philadelphia Enquirer, SF Examiner, and the Vancouver Sunday. He was on the start-up team for C/Net as well as ZDTV. At ZDTV (and TechTV) he hosted Silicon Spin for four years doing grand live and live-to-tape TV shows. His Cyberspace bear witness Cranky Geeks was considered a …