Report: N. Korean hacking group increasing efforts to steal cryptocurrency

Lazarus, a North Korean hacking group, is reportedly ratcheting up its efforts to steal cryptocurrency amid North Korea’s economic difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic sanctions imposed on the country.

“The APT (adaptive persistent threats) hacking group Lazarus, which is allegedly sponsored by a certain government [North Korea], is increasingly engaging in cybercrime activities in and out of South Korea,” according to an Apr. 27 press release from ESTsecurity, a cyber security firm located in Seoul.

Lazarus is the infamous hacking group responsible for the 2014 Sony Pictures hack and 2016 Bangladesh Bank cyber heist. 

According to the press release, the primary targets of these attacks are people who have traded cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, and those who work in the cryptocurrency field. The company warned that these attacks could lead to financial damage.

“Lazarus is carrying out APT attacks not only in South Korea but also in the…