Is the Era of AI Viruses Beginning? — DarkBERT 2 and North Korea’s Cyber-Hybrid Attacks

DarkBERT, an internationally developed AI model originally designed to analyze cyber threats on the Dark Web, is now reportedly in criminal hands. North Korea is using generative AI to enhance cyberattacks, ushering in a new wave of hybrid digital threats the world has never seen before.

What Is DarkBERT?

DarkBERT is a modified language model built to interpret information found on the Dark Web. Its specialized skills include detecting criminal jargon, decoding hacker communications, and generating malicious code for advanced attacks.

North Korea’s Hybrid Cyber Threat

According to agencies like CISA, NSA, CNMF, and South Korea’s national services, North Korean hacker groups employ AI for phishing, vishing (voice phishing), and targeted network disruption. These tools create an entirely new form of cyber-hybrid warfare that is more adaptable and difficult to counter.

DarkBERT in Action

With high accuracy and adaptability, DarkBERT interprets black market terminology and generates code for phishing and fraud. There are documented cases of its use in bitcoin scams and social media attacks, signaling the growing sophistication of AI-powered threats.

Global Response

International intelligence agencies are developing new protocols to counter AI-driven cyberattacks. Traditional firewalls and antivirus solutions are no longer enough—there’s a growing need for integrated AI monitoring systems and predictive analytics to identify emerging threats.

Defensive Strategies

The US, South Korea, and other nations are deploying AI tools for defense, including darknet scanners, language models for code analysis, and protective bots. However, the ethical and legal boundaries of these measures remain largely undefined.

Conclusion

DarkBERT and North Korea represent a new class of hybrid threat—heralding an era where AI can serve as both weapon and shield in cyber conflict. Coordinated international response, standardized protocols, and AI-driven defense will be essential to counter these escalating risks.

📌 Will the world be ready to defend itself before AI attacks reach a truly destructive scale?

✍ Thornike • June 27, 2025