Latest News | KT Faces Allegations of Deliberately Infecting P2P Users with Malware
KT Under Scrutiny: A Deep Dive into the P2P Malware Scandal
A South Korean telco, KT, allegedly infected approximately 600,000 users of its web hard drive service with malware. This was purportedly done through its Grid Program used for peer-to-peer (P2P) file exchanges, which suddenly stopped working due to inserted malware aimed at hiding files. The incident, ongoing for nearly five months starting May 2020, has prompted a police investigation and the seizure of evidence from KT's headquarters and datacenter.
Highlights and Important Points:
- KT accused of inserting malware into its Grid Program to interfere with P2P file transfers.
- Approximately 600,000 users affected by the malware.
- Allegations include a dedicated team at KT involved in malware development, distribution, and operation.
- Investigation under South Korea’s Communications Secrets Protection Act and Information and Communications Network Act.
- Ethical concerns raised over privacy violations and consent issues.
- KT defends actions citing network burden from P2P services.
Takeaways:
- Ensure rigorous cybersecurity measures are in place to protect user data and privacy.
- Companies should transparently communicate any network management practices to users.
- Regulatory bodies play a crucial role in investigating and addressing privacy violations in telecommunications.
Source and further reading.
Dobberstein, L. (2024, 27 junio). Korean telco allegedly infected its P2P users with malware.
The Register.
https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/27/kt_p2p_malware_claim/
Rusanov, A. (2024, 27 junio). South Korean telecom attacked 600,000 torrent users with malware — customers of a cloud company were affected.
ITC.ua.
https://itc.ua/en/news/south-korean-telecom-attacked-600-000-torrent-users-with-malware-customers-of-a-cloud-company-were-affected/