Fake job offers have become a new method used by North Korean-linked entities to hack into job seekers' devices and steal their data and digital assets. International security agencies warned of a large-scale electronic campaign targeting tens of thousands of devices in more than 100 countries, exploiting tempting job advertisements to lure software developers and IT specialists, with the aim of accessing their data and stealing cryptocurrencies, according to the Independent newspaper.
According to the FBI, the WaterPlum group, also known as Contagious Interview, targets software developers and IT professionals by impersonating potential employers and making fake job offers for what is presented as a “dream job.”
A joint statement on cybersecurity, issued by the Australian, German, Japanese and American authorities, stated that the hacking operations occurred during the period between December 2025 and July 2026. However, the FBI warned that this threat still exists.
The US federal agency said that the “Water Bloom” group targets IT professionals in Japan, the United States, Europe and other regions around the world.
Hackers have already stolen funds or account credentials linked to more than 7,000 cryptocurrency wallets, and have transferred assets worth $10.8 million (£8.1 million) to North Korea.
Both the FBI and Japan's National Police Agency (NPA) said they had identified "facilitators" in the United States and Japan who were facilitating these operations.
The security alert noted that “actors associated with the Waterbloom Group are impersonating potential employers to target software developers and IT specialists around the world, under the pretext of providing attractive job opportunities.”
The warning added: “They often impersonate legitimate companies working in the fields of artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, or non-fungible tokens (NFT), and they have also resorted to using recruitment services.”
The group targets its potential victims via social media and online recruitment platforms, asking applicants to participate in virtual interviews or perform technical tasks as part of the recruitment process.
During the interview, Waterbloom hackers direct job seekers to download and run malicious files, giving them backdoor access to the victims' computer networks.
The relevant agencies have warned workers in the field of information technology of the need to be careful when receiving job offers or communicating with external parties regarding job opportunities, especially when they are asked to download files, run programs, or perform technical tasks during the recruitment stages.
On Tuesday, Anthropic and OpenAI launched new, less expensive models of artificial intelligence, just hours apart, days after officials from the two companies called for caution in developing this technology.
According to Agence France-Presse, Anthropic said that its new model, “Opus 5.5,” is close to the performance of its leading model, “Viable,” for a much lower cost.
After that, OpenAI announced the launch of the GPT-6 Sol and GPT-6 Luna models, confirming that they perform tasks much better than the most powerful Anthropic models.
The new models are faster and less expensive versions of the GPT-6 Astra model, the most powerful OpenAI model, which was introduced earlier this month.
This competition reflects the contradiction that the two companies face; They warn of the risks of the technology they are developing, while at the same time they are under pressure to achieve returns from huge investments amid strong competition. Especially from low-cost Chinese models.
Anthropic's launch of its new model comes weeks before its expected listing on the stock exchange, while OpenAI has postponed its initial public offering plans until next year.
“Anthropic” confirmed that the new model adopts the same protection measures used in “Vable” in the fields of cybersecurity, biology, and designing artificial intelligence models.
She added that internal tests showed that “Opus 5.5” is the best model the company has tested so far in terms of “compatibility,” that is, the extent of its commitment to the goals set by its developers.
But the company also noted that the model showed a frequent tendency to believe it was being evaluated, which it acknowledged could make it difficult to predict its behavior under normal usage conditions.
A news program prepared entirely with artificial intelligence, from its content to the avatars of journalists, sparked dissatisfaction in Argentine media circles, which warned of a threat to the profession and the theft of contents to produce this journalistic work, according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.
“El Premiere Fica” (Coffee in Verlán), presented by artificial intelligence-generated commentators, begins with the phrase “Change the world while you sleep.” Here's what you need to know to start your day.
The program, which promotes technology, Santiago Siri, was launched at the beginning of this September, via the “Instagram” and “X” platforms.
At 7 a.m., the “Vika” program presents a series of video clips, each of which does not exceed about 30 seconds, and includes news collected by artificial intelligence, which writes text and creates video clips in which avatars of journalists speak, in a tone that is not devoid of errors.
The editorial team includes a presenter called Clara Ferrer and six specialists in the fields of economics, sports, technology, geopolitics, entertainment and weather, each with a name and a personality. Their profiles can be viewed on the website.
Among the topics covered by El Premier Fica in recent days are Argentina's 2027 budget, an electric ferry that crossed the Río de la Plata, a briefing from Leandro Chen on drones and interceptor aircraft in Ukraine, and an update from Ricky Bertola on central bank reserves.
Reactions in the media were quick, as Agustín Lecce, from the Buenos Aires Press Syndicate, said in an article published in the daily newspaper “Tempo Argentino” that “the potential massive job losses due to artificial intelligence are cause for concern.”
For its part, the Argentine Press Association, which includes 180 media outlets, described the impact of artificial intelligence as “a structural challenge for the future of journalism,” noting “the necessity of establishing new rules of the digital game,” while acknowledging the efforts made to produce verifiable information, and “preventing technology from becoming a tool for systematic acquisition.”
