DPRK Cyber IndexYearsActorsSourcesAttacks on North KoreaMethodologyContributeSearch

Microsoft Digital Defense Report (26)

Date (as written)IncidentCountryActors
2021-10-25T16:00:17+00:00 (blog summarizing MDDR 2021)THALLIUM large-scale spear-phishing against government sector (MDDR 2021)THALLIUM
2022-07H0lyGh0st RansomwareUnited StatesDEV-0530
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2022 (covers July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022)CERIUM and ZINC targeting defense and aerospace companies (fake recruiter LinkedIn profiles)around the globeCERIUM; ZINC
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2022 (covers July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022)CERIUM probing South Korean VPNs and targeting the South Korean militarySouth KoreanCERIUM
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2022 (covers July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022)COPERNICIUM targeting cryptocurrency-related companies, including in China and Hong Kongaround the world; China, both on the mainland and in Hong KongCOPERNICIUM
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2022 (covers July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022)DEV-0215 targeting media organizations that follow North Korean news and Korean-speaking Christian communitiesDEV-0215
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2022 (covers July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022)OSMIUM interest in international aid organizationsOSMIUM
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2022 (covers July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022)North Korean targeting of Russian think tanks, academics, and diplomatic officialsRussianNorth Korean threat actors
2023-03-30T11:37:54+00:00 (published_time)3CX Desktop App supply chain compromise (ICONIC)UTA0040, later attributed to Lazarus
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023Diamond Sleet compromising nuclear energy organizations (spring 2023) and maritime entities (fall 2022)globallyDiamond Sleet
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023Ruby Sleet use of a stolen IT security solutions provider certificate (early 2023)Ruby Sleet
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023Harmony Horizon Bridge heist (June 2022) attributed to Jade SleetJade Sleet
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023Emerald Sleet spear-phishing of Korean Peninsula expertsaround the worldEmerald Sleet
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023Sapphire Sleet fake LinkedIn investor profiles targeting blockchain-related targetsSapphire Sleet
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023Ruby Sleet fake LinkedIn profiles targeting a defense company and cybersecurity company in IsraelIsraelRuby Sleet
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023Ruby Sleet, Diamond Sleet, and Sapphire Sleet targeting maritime and shipbuilding sector (November 2022 to January 2023)Ruby Sleet; Diamond Sleet; Sapphire Sleet
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023Ruby Sleet and Diamond Sleet compromise of two arms manufacturing companies in Germany and Israel (November 2022 to January 2023)Germany and IsraelRuby Sleet; Diamond Sleet
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023Diamond Sleet compromise of defense firms in Brazil, Czechia, Finland, Italy, Norway, and Poland (since January 2023)Brazil, Czechia, Finland, Italy, Norway, and PolandDiamond Sleet
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023Diamond Sleet trojanized VNC compromise of a Russian nuclear energy organization (May 2023)RussianDiamond Sleet
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023Ruby Sleet, Onyx Sleet and Opal Sleet targeting Russian aerospace institute, university, and diplomatic entities (March 2023)RussianRuby Sleet; Onyx Sleet; Opal Sleet (likely)
2024-05FakePenny RansomwareZZZMoonstone Sleet
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2024Jade Sleet, Sapphire Sleet, and Citrine Sleet targeting cryptocurrency organizations (since 2023)Jade Sleet; Sapphire Sleet; Citrine Sleet
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2024North Korean targeting by region and sector (United States first, United Kingdom second; IT sector most targeted)The United States; the United KingdomNorth Korean threat actors
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2025North Korean remote IT workers embedded at organizations worldwidearound the world; US-based companiesNorth Korean IT workers (Jasper Sleet)
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2025North Korean actor participating as a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) affiliate for the first timea North Korean actor (not named in this passage)
Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2025North Korean targeting focus: IT sector, banking/blockchain, defense, manufacturing; South Korea in APACSouth KoreaNorth Korean threat actors