FBI Uncovers North Korean Cyber Actors Responsible for $308 Million Bitcoin Heist
Washington, D.C. (December 23, 2024) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in collaboration with the FBI’s Cyber Division (DC3) and the National Police Agency (NPA) of Japan, has identified and tracked a group of North Korean cyber actors responsible for the theft of $308 million USD from Bitcoin.DMM.com in June 2022. The group has been identified as TraderTraitor.
TraderTraitor is a sophisticated and prolific cybercrime group that has been targeting cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms for several years. The group uses a variety of tactics to compromise systems, including phishing, malware, and zero-day exploits.
In the Bitcoin.DMM.com heist, TraderTraitor exploited a vulnerability in the exchange’s software to gain unauthorized access to its systems. The group then used their access to steal approximately 10,000 bitcoins, which at the time were worth approximately $308 million USD.
The FBI, DC3, and NPA worked together to investigate the heist and identify the responsible actors. The investigation involved a complex analysis of blockchain data, network traffic, and other forensic evidence.
The investigation revealed that TraderTraitor is a North Korean-based group with ties to the Lazarus Group, a known North Korean state-sponsored hacking group. The group is believed to have been operating out of China and Russia.
The FBI is urging cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms to strengthen their security measures to prevent future attacks by TraderTraitor and other cybercrime groups. The bureau is also working with international partners to disrupt the group’s activities and bring its members to justice.
Additional Information:
- The FBI has issued a warning to cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms to be aware of TraderTraitor’s tactics and to take steps to protect their systems.
- The DC3 has provided a list of best practices for cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms to follow to prevent cyberattacks.
- The NPA is working with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to investigate the Bitcoin.DMM.com heist and to track down the members of TraderTraitor.
- The United States Department of Justice has indicted three North Korean nationals for their alleged involvement in the Bitcoin.DMM.com heist. The individuals are charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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FBI a new article on 2024-12-23 12:12 titled “FBI, DC3, and NPA Identification of North Korean Cyber Actors, Tracked as TraderTraitor, Responsible for Theft of $308 Million USD from Bitcoin.DMM.com”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
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