• bunee
• November 30, 2023
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North Korean Threat Actors: An Increasing Peril For Crypto Sector

Here are some quick takeaways for you:

• Threat actors from North Korea, also known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), are increasingly turning their attention towards the cryptocurrency sector.
• This trend started to gain impetus from 2017, as crypto became a significant revenue generation tool for the country to bypass sanctions.
• Despite heavy restrictions on movement and isolated general population, DPRK manages to coordinate sophisticated cybercrime operations.

The Cyber-Brawn of DPRK

The topic of cybercrime isn’t exactly a new PewDieByte in the tech news world – but there’s a spicy chip on the motherboard that’s making headlines lately. We’re referring to the cyber Hulk, the threat actors from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Though they live in a country where freedom to move around is rarer than a USB port on an iPhone, they’ve managed to make a name for themselves in the dark world of cybercrime.

Bearer of Bad Bytes: Crypto at Risk

Like a bad ex-boyfriend, DPRK keeps showing up where it’s least expected – the cryptocurrency sector. It’s a classic “bad pennies always turn up” situation but with a digital twist. Since at least 2017, North Korean cyber villains have found the cryptocurrency sector to be a tantalizing fruit, low-hanging enough to bypass sanctions and keep their digital wallets inflated.

A Cyberspace Dictatorship in the Making?

Given that these DPRK agents operate under totalitarian circumstances, tighter than a Wi-Fi password, their ability to stage cyber heists is notably impressive – or terrifying, depending on which side of the firewall you’re on. Yes, folks, it seems you can put restrictions on people’s movement, but you can’t put a firewall on their audacity!

To Sum it Up…

In the digital era where Bitcoins are the new gold, North Korea has emerged as a significant cyber threat, particularly to the crypto industry. Since 2017, amid robust international sanctions, the regime’s threat actors have been using cryptocurrency as a major revenue propeller. Despite stringent domestic restrictions, these DPRK’s desperados have shown that where there’s a Wi-Fi, there’s a way. Remember, when it comes to cybersecurity, always keep your keys closer than a long-winded dad joke at a family holiday party!

Original Article: https://thehackernews.com/2023/11/north-koreas-lazarus-group-rakes-in-3.html