---
title: North Korean Hackers Exploit VS Code to Remotely Control Victims' Computers
description: North Korean hackers exploit VS Code tunneling to infiltrate South Korean systems, bypassing security with clever spear-phishing tactics.
canonical_url: https://codekeeper.co/ticker/north-korean-hackers-use-vs-code-tunneling
---

# North Korean Hackers Exploit VS Code to Remotely Control Victims' Computers

North Korean hackers exploit VS Code tunneling to infiltrate South Korean systems, bypassing security with clever spear-phishing tactics.

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By Content Team Jan 23, 2026

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North Korean hackers are using a clever new trick to break into South Korean systems by exploiting Microsoft Visual Studio Code's legitimate tunneling feature. Darktrace researchers discovered the spear-phishing campaign targeting South Koreans with fake government emails about graduate school programs. The malicious documents, disguised as official files, secretly install VS Code and create a tunnel called "bizeugene" that gives attackers full remote access. This method bypasses traditional security measures since it uses trusted Microsoft infrastructure instead of suspicious command-and-control servers. The attack represents a shift toward "living-off-the-land" tactics, where hackers abuse legitimate tools rather than custom malware, making detection extremely difficult for security teams. **Source:** [Dark Reading](https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint-security/dprk-vs-code-tunnels-remote-hacking)

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