North Korean Cyber Mischief: Contagious Interview Unleashes Malware Mayhem on npm!
North Korean threat actors have unleashed a storm of nearly 200 malicious npm packages, targeting blockchain and Web3 developers with fake job interviews. These deceptive packages, downloaded over 31,000 times, stealthily install OtterCookie malware. It’s a software supply chain nightmare, and no, there’s no free lunch with those “test assignments.”

Hot Take:
It’s like North Korea decided to go phishing but with a side of malware calamari instead of sushi. They’ve taken the time-honored tradition of fake job interviews and “test assignments” to the next level by handing out malicious npm packages like Halloween candy to unsuspecting developers. Move over, LinkedIn, because the Lazarus Group is here to make sure your next job application is not only the start of a new career but a new chapter in cyber chaos!
Key Points:
– North Korean threat actors are flooding the npm registry with nearly 200 malicious packages targeting blockchain and Web3 developers.
– The attack leverages fake job interviews and “test assignments” to distribute OtterCookie malware.
– The campaign uses a three-pronged approach involving GitHub, Vercel, and a special ingredient: malware.
– OtterCookie is malware with a penchant for stealing personal data, browser credentials, and cryptocurrency wallet information.
– Security experts stress the campaign’s industrial nature, comparing it to a simplified software development lifecycle for malware.
