According to blockchain Chainalysis , hackers North Korean crypto last year in seven intrusions into cryptocurrency and investment firms.
The amount is an increase of almost USD 100 million compared to the theft the previous year by a hacker North Korean The total over the last five years has been USD 1.5 billion in cryptocurrencies alone. Not counting the hundreds of millions more that have been stolen from the traditional financial system.
The cryptocurrencies were reportedly used to finance Kim Jong-un's government — and its weapons program — despite the North's economy being devastated by sanctions, isolation, and illness.
“They have been very successful,” said Erin Plante, senior director of investigations at Chainalysis , whose report cites 2021 as a big year for cryptocurrency .
The growth in stolen funds has also followed the number of thefts last year. The seven breaches Chainalysis tracked in 2021 were three more than in 2020, despite fewer than 10 attacks by hackers in 2018, when they stole $522 million.
Although Chainalysis declined to identify victims of the theft it tracked last year, its report accuses hackers of stealing about $97 million in crypto from Japanese exchange Liquid.com in August, including $45 million in ethereum.
Chainalysis said it linked all seven cryptocurrency samples malware , hacking infrastructure, and following the stolen money into the blockchain that had been checked if they were controlled by hackers North Korean
Chainalysis said the thefts were all carried out by Lazarus, a group of hackers believed to be working for the North Korean government. tracking company hacker points out that Lazarus is made up of many different groups.
Security firm Mandiant agreed with Chainalysis that stealing cryptocurrencies has become a priority for nearly all North Korean groups it tracks.
One of the reasons hackers prefer cryptocurrencies over other forms of financial crime is because of the ease with which they can launder digital money.
Until the cryptocurrency finds a way to protect itself from these hackers—or to prevent their coins from being laundered and turned into clean banknotes—the hacks will continue to grow.(*)
ethereum Blockchain Cryptocurrency Korea Utara Hacker bitcoin
EmoticonEmoticon