South Korean law enforcement: North Korean hackers impersonate South Korean government agencies and journalists to steal cryptocurrency

作者：Anthonia Isichei ，CryptoPotato；编译：松雪，金色财经

South Korean law enforcement revealed that hackers in North Korea impersonated South Korean government agencies and journalists to steal cryptocurrency.

Allegedly, hackers use email phishing techniques to carry out suspicious actions against unsuspecting victims.

North Korean hackers focus on stealing cryptocurrency

North Korean hackers appear to have targeted people’s crypto assets, stealing the information of nearly 1,500 victims, mostly from the private sector, and about 57 of them retired or current government officials, between March and October 2023, according to the National Police Agency.

According to the authorities, the attackers impersonated officials from the National Health Insurance, the National Pension Service, the National Police Agency, and the National Tax Service to send phishing emails to recipients.

If a victim opens a scam email or clicks on an attachment, their computer becomes infected with malware, allowing hackers to steal personal data and information.

In addition, police noted that the attackers seized the user IDs and profiles of 19 people to gain access to their cryptocurrency trading accounts. While there was no mention of the specific assets stolen and their value, South Korean law enforcement said it would redouble its efforts to combat illegal cyber activity.

"The police will work closely with relevant agencies and institutions to continue to track down North Korea’s cyberattacks and violations and prevent damage. ”

Lazarus Group holds nearly $60 million in cryptocurrency

North Korean hackers linked to the notorious Lazarus Group are targeting blockchain engineers with new macOS malware. Hackers use Python programs to infiltrate their systems posing as cryptocurrency arbitrage bots.

Lazarus Group has been responsible for some of the biggest hacks in the cryptocurrency industry, including the attack on CoinEx, which resulted in a loss of about $55 million.

The North Korean-backed hacking group currently holds nearly $60 million worth of cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin (BTC) making up the majority and worth $56.15 million. Other crypto assets include ETH, BNB, BUSD, and AAVE.

Source: Golden Finance