N. Korean hackers stole $400m in 2021

North Korea launched at least seven attacks on cryptocurrency platforms that extracted nearly $400 million worth of digital assets in 2021, one of its most successful years on record


Lazarus Group: Hacking group likely behind many attacks is believed to be controlled by Reconnaissance General Bureau – North Korea’s primary intelligence agency

KEY HACKS LINKED TO LAZARUS GROUP

2013: Dark Seoul attack targets South Korea key institutions

2014: Sony Pictures attack

2016: $81m. Cyber heist of Bangladesh central bank’s account at New York Federal Reserve

2017: WannaCry ransomware affects around 200,000 computers in 150 countries
    
2020: $275m. Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin


NORTH KOREAN-LINKED HACKS BY VALUE

Total haul (2017-21): $1.5bn

2021: $395m. Seven attacks, including theft of around $97m from Japanese exchange Liquid.com

Number of attacks
	$522m				$600m
				$395m	$400m
					$200m
4 	10 	7 	4 	7	0
2017 	2018 	2019 	2020 	2021


Sources: Chainalysis, Reuters 
Picture: Bermix Studio via Unsplash 
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