The United States raised it to $10 million, doubling the reward it promised in March 2022 to those who provide useful information about North Korean-backed hackers targeting cryptocurrency exchanges and financial institutions. North Korea can use the stolen money to fund its weapons program.
The United States needs information on people associated with hacker groups linked to the Asian country. Andariel, APT38, Bluenoroff, and Lazarus Group are mentioned among the groups.
The United States made the decision to increase the bounty a week after the Department of Justice announced the confiscation of half a million dollars in bitcoin from North Korean hackers who used the program known as “MAOI” to defraud American medical facilities.
Serious sums on the table
According to a Chainalysis report released in January 2022, North Korean cybercriminals stole nearly $400 million in digital assets from cryptocurrency exchanges and investment firms in 2021 alone. According to the report, a large number of attacks were carried out by the notorious cybercrime organization affiliated with the dictatorship, Lazarus Group. Lazarus has also been linked by the US Treasury to the theft of $615 million in cryptocurrency in April.
As is OCCRP Investigative Project writes: Lazarus is one of the world’s most advanced and yet the most dangerous hacker groups, according to a February report from the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). CNAS stated at the time: In their view, North Korea is increasing its cybercriminal activity because it is forced to compensate for its financial and economic losses caused by international sanctions against the country.
OCCRP notes: Reuters wrote in February that it was aware of a confidential United Nations report accusing North Korea, led by Kim Jong Un, of financing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs with millions of dollars in revenue from cyberattacks on cryptocurrency exchanges.
