A malicious cyberattack campaign carried out by the North Korean government was detected by U.S. intelligence agencies Thursday — just two days after the historic summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.
An analysis compiled by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security revealed the North Korean government has deployed Trojan malwares known as “Hidden Cobras,” which are used to hamper or completely disable entire computer systems.
“This malware variant is known as TYPEFRAME,” the DHS’s Computer Emergency Readiness Team said in a statement. “The intent of sharing this information is to enable network defenders to identify and reduce exposure to North Korean government cyber activity.”
U.S. intelligence agencies have detected North Korean cyber campaigns in the past, including ones targeting major international corporations.
North Korean hackers are believed to have been behind the massive WannaCry ransomware attack, which impacted hundreds of thousands of computers last year. They’re also suspected of having carried out the attack on Sony Picture Entertainment in 2014.
The timing of the latest cyber campaign might raise some eyebrows.
Democrats and foreign policy experts have criticized Trump for emboldening and being overly sympathetic toward Kim during their high-profile meet in Singapore, praising the dictator as a “very talented man” who “loves his county.”
Kim stands accused of numerous human rights violations and the United Nations says he should be charged with crimes against humanity.
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