U.S. charges three North Koreans in $1.3 billion hacking spree
The United States has charged three North Korean computer programmers with a massive hacking spree that stole more than $1.3 billion in money and cryptocurrency, affecting companies from banks to Hollywood movie studios, the Department of Justice said on Wednesday.
- Country:
- United States
The United States has charged three North Korean computer programmers with a massive hacking spree that stole more than $1.3 billion in money and cryptocurrency, affecting companies from banks to Hollywood movie studios, the Department of Justice said on Wednesday. The indictment alleges that Jon Chang Hyok, 31, Kim Il, 27, and Park Jin Hyok, 36, stole money while working for North Korea's military intelligence services. Park had previously been charged in a complaint unsealed in 2018.
The Justice Department said the hackers are responsible for a wide range of criminal activity and high-profile cyber attacks, including a retaliatory November 2014 attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment for producing "The Interview," which depicted the assassination of North Korea's leader. It also alleged they participated in the creation of the destructive WannaCry 2.0 ransomware - which hit Britain's National Health Service particularly hard when it was set loose in May 2017.
The indictment also pins the blame on the hackers for breaking into banks across south and southeast Asia, Mexico, and Africa by breaking into the financial institutions' networks and abusing the SWIFT protocol, and deploying malicious applications from March 2018 through September 2020 targeting cryptocurrency applications. Officials added that a Canadian-American citizen has also separately pleaded guilty to laundering some of the alleged hackers' money.
The indictment was filed under seal on Dec. 8, 2020, and unsealed in a federal court in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Although the three alleged hackers work for the North Korean government, the United States alleges they have been stationed at times in various other countries, including China and Russia.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ALSO READ
This Los Angeles heist sounds like it came from a thriller novel; thieves stole $30 million in cash
Cole Palmer''s hat trick sparks stunning 4-3 comeback for Chelsea against Man United
Man fined Rs 12,000 for car stunts in Delhi's Shastri Park
Embassy REIT to acquire business park in Chennai for Rs 1,269 cr; plans to raise Rs 2,500 cr
De Bruyne feels the love of Guardiola by sparking Man City''s comeback in 4-2 win over Crystal Palace