In a big worry for everyone who likes or uses cryptocurrency, a group of hackers from North Korea called Kimsuky, has been caught using a very sneaky computer virus named ‘Durian‘ to break into cryptocurrency companies in South Korea. This was discovered and shared on May 9 by a group of computer safety experts at Kaspersky.
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- A group of hackers from North Korea called Kimsuky has sent out a tricky computer bug named ‘Durian’ to attack companies in South Korea that deal with cryptocurrency.
- The Durian malware is like a sneaky thief that can sneak into computers without anyone saying it’s okay, take control, and steal secret stuff. This makes it a big problem for keeping computers safe.
- Another group of hackers from North Korea, the Lazarus Group, has retrieved more than $200 million in cryptocurrency that they shouldn’t have had between 2020 and 2023, showing the big problem still facing the world of cryptocurrency.
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North Korean Cyber Group Targets South Korean Crypto Firms with ‘Durian’ Malware
Kimsuky works for the North Korean government and has sneaked into the computer systems of at least two cryptocurrency companies in South Korea. They did this by tricking the security programs that these cryptocurrency companies use to keep safe. The ‘Durian’ virus they used starts off a chain of bad stuff, like putting in a secret door called ‘Appleseed,’ a sneaky tool named LazyLoad, and even misusing real programs like Chrome Remote Desktop.
Kaspersky’s careful checkup shows that Durian lets hackers sneak into computers, put in more bad viruses, and snatch away important stuff. They also found a clue that Kimsuky might be working with another scary North Korean hacker team called the Lazarus Group, because they both use the LazyLoad thing. Since 2009, the Lazarus Group has been grabbing digital money, making them big names in cyber tricks.
To make things more worrying, a person who knows much about blockchain, ZachXBT, discovered that the Lazarus Group cleaned more than $200 million in stolen cryptocurrency from 2020 to 2023. They’re thought to have taken over $3 billion in the six years up to 2023, with $309 million stolen just in 2023. A report from Immunefi on December 28 showed that in 2023, more than $1.8 billion in cryptocurrency was lost because of hackers, showing how big of a problem this is.
Because of all this scary news, everyone involved with cryptocurrency must be extra careful and keep up with the latest ways to stay safe. Joining our newsletter is a really good idea. We send out news and advice on ensuring your online money stays safe. When you’re in our newsletter group, you get to learn big things that help you be smart and careful with your digital money. Don’t miss out—sign up today to be really good at keeping your online coins safe in this quickly changing world.
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