North Korea hackers scan crypto wallets through fake Zoom calls

The attack often begins through a Telegram account that the target already trusts. The hackers take over accounts belonging to crypto contacts, then send a Calendly invitation that leads to a lookalike meeting domain. JUMPSEC described the system as a repeatable victim pipeline because one stolen Telegram session can help the attackers contact the next group of targets.

BlueNoroff checks crypto wallets before sending malware

The phishing page starts scanning the browser when a user enters the fake meeting. It looks for Ethereum wallet connections through EIP-6963 and older browser methods. It also checks for non-EVM wallets, including Solana tools. The results reach an operator panel without alerting the victim. This lets the attackers identify wallets and choose higher-value targets before pushing the next stage.

On Windows, the implant also lists extension IDs across Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi and Firefox variants. Operators can compare those IDs with known wallet extensions such as MetaMask. JUMPSEC called this a system that profiles wallets “before malware delivery.” The method differs from broad phishing campaigns because the attackers gather wallet data before deciding how far to take the intrusion.

Fake Zoom and Teams calls build trust

Victims first see a convincing meeting page that requests their name and webcam access. The site then sends the camera stream to the attacker’s control panel. After the victim joins, the screen shows “waiting for other participants.” An operator can enter with a prepared video, send messages such as “your mic isn’t working,” and trigger a fake “Zoom SDK Update” prompt.

JUMPSEC found that the displayed participant video was not live. The attackers combined AI-generated headshots with body movements captured in earlier meetings. They could then show a familiar-looking person while using a Telegram account that belonged to a real contact. The Teams version included emoji reactions, device settings, background effects and wider wallet checks, making it more polished than the Zoom kit. The source code also contained an unfinished Google Meet option. JUMPSEC said Zoom and Teams suit the lure because both use desktop clients, making an urgent software update appear more credible.

Malware targets both Windows and macOS

On Windows, the copied ClickFix command runs a small PowerShell loader. It downloads a VBScript, adds a Microsoft Defender exclusion and restarts Defender so the change takes effect. The implant gathers system details, checks browsers for wallet extensions and looks for Telegram Web files. It can also receive later payloads from the operators, although JUMPSEC did not recover every final-stage file.

The macOS path downloads a fake Zoom or Teams installer while a stealer runs in the background. Researchers found versions that collected system information and Chrome master keys from Apple’s Keychain. The malware sent data through a Telegram bot and could download another payload. JUMPSEC traced four macOS variants between April 22 and July 15, showing that the operators kept changing the toolkit during the campaign.

Campaign builds on earlier crypto meeting scams

The findings expand earlier research into BlueNoroff’s fake meeting operations. In April, Arctic Wolf reported more than 80 lookalike Zoom and Teams domains and identified 100 additional targets whose media appeared on attacker infrastructure. It said 80% of the identified targets worked in crypto, blockchain finance or related investment sectors, while founders and chief executives made up 45%.

North Korean attackers had already used compromised Telegram accounts, spoofed meeting invitations and fake software updates to target crypto executives. Another crypto.news report described a related macOS campaign that asked victims to run commands during fake calls. Earlier coverage of NimDoor malware also linked fake Zoom updates to theft attempts against browser credentials, wallet data and Telegram files.

The latest kit gives operators direct control over the pace of each meeting and the malware prompt. JUMPSEC advised organisations to treat meeting links from trusted accounts with care because the sender’s account may already be compromised. Crypto teams can verify unusual invitations through another channel, avoid commands or updates presented during calls, revoke exposed Telegram sessions and isolate any device that ran the requested script. Teams should also review PowerShell activity, Defender exclusions, Keychain access and new Telegram logins after any suspect call. A password reset alone may not remove stolen sessions or malware already running on the device across affected systems.