South Korean Government Employee Caught Mining crypto at Work
A recent incident in South Korea has brought attention to the unauthorized use of work resources for personal gain. An employee at the Korea Food Research Institute was discovered to have created a crypto mining server using stolen GPUs from the organization.
The employee, identified as a "director" at the institute, repurposed 12 GPUs to set up a cryptocurrency mining operation without the institute's knowledge. The National Research Council of Science and Technology (NST) uncovered this illicit activity during an audit, leading to charges of theft and breach of trust against the director.
crypto Mining Server Made from Stolen GPUs, Auditors Say
According to NST investigators, the director utilized the stolen GPUs to establish a mining server for an undisclosed cryptocurrency. The director went as far as setting up a mining space in a restricted area within the institute to avoid detection. The auditors found evidence suggesting that the director had been running the mining operation for a substantial period before being caught.
Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the director had misappropriated the institute's budget to purchase additional equipment necessary for mining, including air conditioning units and separate electrical infrastructure. The auditors estimated that the unauthorized mining activities had caused damages worth approximately 7.86 million won, equivalent to $5,866.
Director Bypassed Firewall with VPN: Auditor
In a sophisticated move, the director bypassed the institute's firewall restrictions by using a VPN to access prohibited crypto mining and wallet-related websites. Additionally, the director allegedly impersonated another employee to procure an additional dedicated mining GPU, further highlighting the extent of the deception.
The audit committee recommended not only recovering the damages caused by the illegal mining operation but also suggested the dismissal of the director. The auditors further called for a thorough review of the institute's network operations to bolster its cybersecurity measures and prevent similar incidents in the future.
This case echoes a previous instance in 2021 when a government employee was found mining ethereum beneath a prominent opera house in Seoul. These incidents underscore the need for organizations to implement robust security protocols to prevent unauthorized activities that can jeopardize their integrity and resources.
As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve, vigilance and adherence to ethical practices are crucial in safeguarding against misuse and abuse of resources for personal gain.
