N. Korean hackers suspected of hijacking some $100 mln from banks: Symantec

By Park Sae-jin Posted : April 26, 2017, 17:36 Updated : April 26, 2017, 17:36

[Iclickart]


North Korean hackers are suspected of hijacking almost 100 million US dollars from banks in Bangladesh and other countries in 2015 and 2016, the South Korean branch of a global security firm reported Wednesday.

Symantec Korea said that it has found evidence which links North Korea to cyber attacks targeting banks in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Ecuador and Poland. North Korean hackers have successfully hijacked at least 94 million dollars in between 2015 and 2016, it said.

The security firm analyzed big data collected through 98 million sensors placed over 157 countries worldwide and discovered a special code, identical to the one used by a hacking group called "Lazarus", inside the malicious code used in the hacking of Bangladesh Bank in early 2016. Experts said North Korea was actually behind the group.

Russian security firm Kaspersky shares the same thought with Symantec. Russian specialists said earlier this month that North Korea appeared to have been linked to cyber-attacks on banks in over 18 countries. Kaspersky said the attacks could be traced to North Korea.

Experts believe North Korean has spent stolen money on developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

Park Sae-jin =swatchsjp@ajunews.com



 

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