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Three North Korean hackers were charged on Wednesday by the federal authorities for attempting to steal more than 1.3 billion in cash and cryptocurrency from around the globe.
The hackers, who are a part of the North Korean military intelligence agency, were also cited for creating and using multiple malicious cryptocurrency applications to fraudulently market a cryptocurrency platform.
Apart from deploying malware on ATM machines, they also orchestrated spear-phishing campaigns from 2016 until early 2020, where they attacked employees of the U.S. Defense Department, the State Department, and workers at U.S.-cleared defense contractors, energy firms, aerospace companies and tech firms.
Federal prosecutors charge three North Korean hackers accused of conspiring to steal more than $1.3 billion
North Korea’s operatives, using keyboards rather than guns, stealing digital wallets of cryptocurrency instead of sacks of cash, are the world’s leading bank robbers
CNN reports that federal prosecutors charged three North Korean hackers with conspiring to steal more than $1.3 billion from banks and companies around the world,
Authorities described a range of brazen operations carried out by the trio from 2014 to 2020, targeting high-profile movie studios and cryptocurrency traders with sophisticated technology that national security officials said underscored the country’s status as a leading cybercrime threat.
They’re also said to have orchestrated digital heists of cryptocurrency and intrusions of ATMs using novel strands of malware.
According to the indictment, the three were stationed at times in other countries outside of North Korea, including Russia and China.
North Korean hackers charged in massive cryptocurrency theft scheme
The programmers also are accused of creating and deploying “multiple malicious cryptocurrency applications, and to develop and fraudulently market a blockchain platform.
According to CNBC, Federal authorities said Wednesday that three North Korean computer programmers have been indicted for conducting a series of cyberattacks to attempt to steal and extort more than $1.3 billion in cash and cryptocurrency from financial institutions and companies.
The programmers, who are part of a North Korean military intelligence agency, also are accused of creating and deploying “multiple malicious cryptocurrency applications, and to develop and fraudulently market a blockchain platform,” according to a Department of Justice press release.
