FBI Dismantles North Korean Laptop Farms in Texas

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike dismantled a network of laptop farms across more than 40 sites in Texas. The operation resulted in the seizure of nearly 200 computer devices used by North Korean IT workers to infiltrate U.S. companies. These workers used stolen American identities and remote tunneling software to bypass security measures and secure remote employment, with the proceeds funding North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

In a related action, the United States Department of Justice unsealed indictments in Ohio against two U.S. nationals and 10 North Koreans based in China. This group is accused of defrauding 70 companies of more than $3 million between 2019 and 2025.

FBI officials report that North Korea is deploying thousands of state-controlled workers who utilize AI-generated resumes and subcontractors in Pakistan and Nigeria to evade detection. Brett Leatherman, head of the FBI's cyber division, stated that these jobs fund weapons programs obtained through the stolen identities of Americans and the trust of U.S. employers.