According to defectors, North Korea’s cyber army has about 7,000 hackers.
Their job is to wreak havoc on the country’s enemies.
Recently, North Korean hackers targeted cybersecurity researchers in the U.S.
North Korean hackers set up a fake cybersecurity company called SecuriElite.
They also created fake social media accounts on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Their goal was to trick cybersecurity experts into visiting the fake company website.
The website was booby-trapped with malware that exploited the victim’s browser.
The website claims the company is an offensive security company located in Turkey. The hackers created a blog and profiles on websites to build trust with their targets.
Their goal was to attack a Windows flaw that gave them access to the devices managed by the victims.
As soon as the exploit was discovered, Microsoft fixed the problem.
The goal of the attackers wasn’t monetary.
It’s more likely they wanted to gain knowledge on the inner workings of cybersecurity experts in the U.S.
But the truth is, whether it’s North Korea, Russia, or another country, there are plenty of fake websites on the internet.
And it’s only getting worse…
In fact, over 18,000 fake websites are created every single day.
And hackers from all over the world use those fake websites to steal personal information and browsing habits.
So, how can you tell if a website is real or fake?
Here are a few tips that can help you decide if a website is legit before sharing your information.
Call the chamber of commerce:
A website can have a fake address and location. It could be 123 Main Street.
But, if a company operates in a community with a chamber of commerce they should have current information.
For example, let’s say you are planning a hiking trip to a small town in Wyoming.
All you need is a tour guide.
You can call the local chamber and ask for references or who they recommend.
Checking the validity of a business with the locals is another good way to “vet” their legitimacy.
Verify the company address and phone number:
Every real business should have a mailing address and phone number posted somewhere on their website.
Call the number to see if a company representative actually answers.
And do a search online of the address.
If it is a legitimate company that address should pop up right away.
You can also check Google Maps. It can show a satellite image of the address.
Check licenses:
Doctors, contractors, and many other fields require the person to have a license.
My point is, if you are doing business with a lawyer you’ve found online you can check their license status with the state.
This way you can see if they’re legitimate.
And you can also learn about any disciplinary action the person may have faced.
This is a good first step to verify them when possible.
Payment methods:
Most companies will accept credit cards and other forms of payment.
Be wary of companies that require a check or access to a bank account.
It’s safer to pay with credit card, because if there is a fraudulent activity you can usually get your money back.
If the company will only take a check or money order, this should be a red flag.
Don’t provide any banking information except a credit card.
This is the safest way to make a payment online.
Legal page:
No legitimate company will have a website that doesn’t contain legal language.
Every business will have a section with fine print or terms and conditions.
If you browse the entire website and can’t find any legal disclaimer this could be an issue.
Maybe the company doesn’t have insurance to protect them or they could be totally fake.
Most hackers don’t waste time on a legal page that they think nobody looks at.
The internet is full of websites that are either fake, fraudulent, or a scam. It’s a fact of using the World Wide Web.
These tips can help you avoid becoming the latest victim of a hacker.
