hacker rank amazon hiring challenge

Introduction：

1、FBI issues guidance for enterprises as fake North Korean IT workers wreak havoc

2、Justice Department and FBI Conduct International Operation to Delete Malware Used by China-Backed Hackers

FBI issues guidance for enterprises as fake North Korean IT workers wreak havoc ♂

　　The FBI has issued fresh guidance aimed at helping organizations combat the threats posed by fake North Korean IT workers after a spate of incidents.

　　In its latest efforts to stamp out the scam whereby North Korean hackers pose as legitimate remote IT workers, the FBI said they are continuing to target US-based businesses.

　　"In recent months, in addition to data extortion, FBI has observed North Korean IT workers leveraging unlawful access to company networks to exfiltrate proprietary and sensitive data, facilitate cyber criminal activities, and conduct revenue-generating activity on behalf of the regime,” the law enforcement agency said in a statement.

　　North Korean IT workers have extorted victims by holding stolen proprietary data and code hostage for ransom - and in some cases have released that proprietary code.

　　They have copied company code repositories, such as GitHub, to their own user profiles and personal cloud accounts, putting company code at risk of theft.

　　The FBI also warned the fake workers could try to harvest sensitive company credentials and session cookies to initiate work sessions from non-company devices, and compromise their victims in other ways.

　　In terms of data monitoring, organizations should practice the principle of least privilege, disabling local administrator accounts and limiting privileges for installing remote desktop applications.

　　They should monitor and investigate unusual network traffic, including remote connections to devices, or the presence of unauthorized remote desktop protocols or software.

　　"North Korean IT workers often have multiple logins into one account in a short period of time from various IP addresses, often associated with different countries," the FBI warned.

　　Companies should monitor network logs and browser session activity to identify data exfiltration through easily accessible means such as shared drives, cloud accounts, and private code repositories.

　　And they should monitor endpoints for the use of software that allows for multiple audio or video calls to take place at the same time.

　　It's best, of course, if fake workers don't get hired in the first place, and the FBI has advice here too.

　　The Bureau advised organizations to implement identity-verification processes during interviewing, onboarding, and throughout the employment of any remote worker. They should look out for other applicants with the same resume content and/or contact information.

　　Similarly, employers should remain vigilant for the use of AI and face-swapping technology during video job interviews to hide their true identities. HR staff, hiring managers, and development teams should be given training to spot the telltale signs of deepfakes, the advisory noted.

　　Third-party staffing firms are also advised to implement robust hiring practices and routinely auditing those practices.

　　"Use 'soft' interview questions to ask applicants for specific details about their location or education background. North Korean IT workers often claim to have attended non-US educational institutions,” the advisory said.

　　The FBI has been battling the problem of fake IT workers for some time. It first warned of the issue in 2022, with further advisories issued in 2023 and in May last year.

　　In August 2024, cybersecurity training firm KnowBe4 revealed it had fallen prey to this type of scam. The company released a detailed report examining the incident, including how the fake worker attempted to upload malware.

　　The firm acted swiftly, however, and no sensitive information was exposed as a result of the incident.

　　Earlier this month, the Justice Department indicted a batch of suspects accused of being involved in a campaign of scams that impacted 64 companies. Payments from ten of those companies generated at least $866,255 in revenue, most of which was then laundered through a Chinese bank account.

　　“The Department of Justice remains committed to disrupting North Korea’s cyber-enabled sanctions-evading schemes, which seek to trick US companies into funding the North Korean regime’s priorities, including its weapons programs," said supervisory official Devin DeBacker of the Justice Department's National Security Division.

Justice Department and FBI Conduct International Operation to Delete Malware Used by China-Backed Hackers ♂

　　Note: View the affidavit here.

　　The Justice Department and FBI today announced a multi-month law enforcement operation that, alongside international partners, deleted “PlugX” malware from thousands of infected computers worldwide. As described in court documents unsealed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a group of hackers sponsored by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), known to the private sector as “Mustang Panda” and “Twill Typhoon,” used a version of PlugX malware to infect, control, and steal information from victim computers.

　　According to court documents, the PRC government paid the Mustang Panda group to, among other computer intrusion services, develop this specific version of PlugX. Since at least 2014, Mustang Panda hackers then infiltrated thousands of computer systems in campaigns targeting U.S. victims, as well as European and Asian governments and businesses, and Chinese dissident groups. Despite previous cybersecurity reports, owners of computers still infected with PlugX are typically unaware of the infection. The court-authorized operation announced today remediated U.S.-based computers infected with Mustang Panda’s version of PlugX.

　　“The Department of Justice prioritizes proactively disrupting cyber threats to protect U.S. victims from harm, even as we work to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “This operation, like other recent technical operations against Chinese and Russian hacking groups like Volt Typhoon, Flax Typhoon, and APT28, has depended on strong partnerships to successfully counter malicious cyber activity. I commend partners in the French government and private sector for spearheading this international operation to defend global cybersecurity.”

　　“Leveraging our partnership with French law enforcement, the FBI acted to protect U.S. computers from further compromise by PRC state-sponsored hackers,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Today’s announcement reaffirms the FBI’s dedication to protecting the American people by using its full range of legal authorities and technical expertise to counter nation-state cyber threats.”

　　“This wide-ranging hack and long-term infection of thousands of Windows-based computers, including many home computers in the United States, demonstrates the recklessness and aggressiveness of PRC state-sponsored hackers,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “Working alongside both international and private sector partners, the Department of Justice’s court-authorized operation to delete PlugX malware proves its commitment to a ‘whole-of-society’ approach to protecting U.S. cybersecurity.”

　　“The FBI worked to identify thousands of infected U.S. computers and delete the PRC malware on them. The scope of this technical operation demonstrates the FBI’s resolve to pursue PRC adversaries no matter where they victimize Americans,” said Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office.

　　The international operation was led by French law enforcement and Sekoia.io, a France-based private cybersecurity company, which had identified and reported on the capability to send commands to delete the PlugX version from infected devices. Working with these partners, the FBI tested the commands, confirmed their effectiveness, and determined that they did not otherwise impact the legitimate functions of, or collect content information from, infected computers. In August 2024, the Justice Department and FBI obtained the first of nine warrants in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania authorizing the deletion of PlugX from U.S.-based computers. The last of these warrants expired on Jan. 3, 2025, thereby concluding the U.S. portions of the operation. In total, this court-authorized operation deleted PlugX malware from approximately 4,258 U.S.-based computers and networks.

　　The FBI, through the victims’ internet service providers, is providing notice to U.S. owners of Windows-based computers affected by this court-authorized operation.

　　The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office and Cyber Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the National Security Cyber Section of Justice Department’s National Security Division led the domestic disruption operation. This operation would not have been successful without the valuable collaboration of to the Cyber Division of the Paris Prosecution Office, French Gendarmerie Cyber Unit C3N, and Sekoia.io.

Related questions

The HackerRank Amazon Hiring Challenge is a coding assessment designed to evaluate candidates' technical skills for various roles at Amazon. These challenges typically focus on coding proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of algorithms and data structures.

Key Points to Consider:

1. Format of the Challenge:

   • The challenge often includes multiple programming questions.
   • Questions may vary in difficulty and may require knowledge of algorithms, data structures, and coding languages (commonly Python, Java, or C++).
   • You might need to solve problems in a limited time, so practice time management.

2. Types of Questions:

   • Algorithmic Challenges: Problems that require implementing algorithms to solve issues efficiently.
   • Data Structure Questions: Tasks that involve using appropriate data structures to handle data correctly.
   • System Design (for certain roles): High-level design questions may be part of interviews for software development or architectural roles.

3. Preparation Tips:

   • Practice Coding Problems: Use platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or CodeSignal to get comfortable with a variety of coding problems.
   • Study Algorithms and Data Structures: Be familiar with common algorithms (sorting, searching) and data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs).
   • Understand Complexity Analysis: You should be able to analyze the time and space complexity of your solutions.
   • Mock Interviews: Consider practicing with peers or using platforms designed for mock interviews.

4. Technical Skills:

   • Programming Languages: Make sure you are proficient in at least one programming language.
   • Problem-Solving Skills: Develop a systematic approach to tackle problems and articulate your thought process while coding.

5. Behavioral Components:

   • While HackerRank is focused on technical skills, be prepared for potential behavioral questions in subsequent interview rounds, usually focused on your experiences, teamwork, and leadership.

6. Post-Challenge:

   • After completing the challenge, you might receive feedback or be invited to subsequent interview rounds depending on your performance.

Conclusion

Preparing for the Amazon hiring challenge on HackerRank requires a blend of algorithmic knowledge, coding practice, and strategic problem-solving skills. Familiarizing yourself with the format and practicing through various online resources will significantly boost your chances of success. Good luck!