DOJ busts four North Korean hackers in $900K crypto theft

Key Points

1. The defendants, Kim Kwang Jin, Kang Tae Bok, Jong Pong Ju, and Chang Nam, allegedly stole $175,000 in February 2022 and an additional $740,000 by modifying a smart contract.

2. North Korean IT workers are increasingly infiltrating crypto and tech companies using fake resumes to gain access for financial gain.

3. The scheme is linked to broader activities of North Korean hacking units like the Lazarus Group, responsible for high-profile thefts such as the $600 million Ronin Bridge hack in 2022.

4. U.S. officials and the FBI are emphasizing the threat posed by North Korea's use of digital assets to fund its regime and are committed to exposing these activities.

5. Google’s Threat Intelligence Group reported a rise in DPRK-linked IT workers targeting crypto and tech companies in Europe and the U.S.