Cybersecurity awareness and training provider KnowBe4 hired a North Korean fake IT worker for a software engineering role on its AI team, and only realized its mistake once the guy started using his company-provided computer for evil.

KnowBe4 'fessed up to the hire in a Tuesday disclosure from CEO Stu Sjouwerman. He explained that his HR team conducted four video interviews with the candidate, confirmed his appearance matched a photo included with a job the application, and conducted background checks.

Everything checked out OK, the faker was hired, and a Mac dispatched so he could start work.

Which is when the trouble started.

"We sent them their Mac workstation, and the moment it was received, it immediately started to load malware," Sjouwerman wrote.