MS "Attacks such as the U.S. in partnership with North Korea, China, and Russia, cybercriminals"

Microsoft said North Korea, Russia, China and Iran are engaged in cyber operations in other countries, such as intervening in U.S. elections in partnership with cybercrime forces.

MS said in a report released on the 15th local time that the countries were "more aggressively and sophisticatedly recruiting cybercriminals to steal money, gain information and sway elections."

Last year, Microsoft said it saw a "sharp shift in the 'hybrid war' tactics of mixing military and non-military means, widespread election interference attempts, worldwide ransomware attacks, and a surge in cyber-based financial fraud."

In particular, North Korea has long been a country where the boundaries between cybercrime and cyber espionage are ambiguous, saying U.N. estimates say North Korea has stolen more than $3 billion (about 4.1 trillion won) in cryptocurrency since 2017.

MS also said Russia, Iran and China have been engaged in election sabotage and have stepped up operations to change voter perceptions, foster conflict and discredit public institutions.

MS analyzed that significant geopolitical events such as war have occurred and that generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools have been spread at the same time, creating a favorable environment for election maneuvering.