North Korean hackers use AI in Zerion attack

Crypto wallet Zerion said North Korean-linked hackers used AI-driven social engineering to steal around $100,000 from its hot wallets in a targeted attack.

The company confirmed no user funds or core infrastructure were affected and that it temporarily disabled its web app as a precaution following the breach.

“This incident showed that AI is changing the way cyber threats work,”

Zerion said.

The attackers gained access to employee sessions, credentials and private keys, highlighting how human vulnerabilities are becoming a primary entry point rather than smart contract flaws.

The incident follows a similar attack on Drift Protocol, where $280 million was exploited through a structured social engineering campaign linked to North Korean actors.

Security researchers say the group uses long-term tactics across platforms like LinkedIn, Telegram and Slack, often impersonating trusted contacts and leveraging AI tools to enhance credibility.

The attack underscores growing risks across the crypto sector, as increasingly sophisticated AI-enabled threats target individuals and organisations with access to digital asset infrastructure.