Google: State-Backed Hackers Use Gemini for Recon Support
⚠️ Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) says the North Korea-linked actor UNC2970 and other state-aligned groups abused Gemini for target profiling, reconnaissance, and campaign planning. GTIG found use cases ranging from synthesizing OSINT and crafting tailored phishing personas to automating vulnerability analysis and debugging exploit code. Researchers identified malware such as HONESTCUE, which queries Gemini’s API to generate C# stage-two loaders compiled in memory, and an AI-built phishing kit called COINBAIT. Google also reported and mitigated large-scale model extraction activity aimed at replicating Gemini’s behavior.
