Why wasn't the internet banned in North Korea? I don't understand.

North Korean Hackers Steal Over $$ 1 Billion in Cryptocurrencies in 2024

For the fifth year in a row, cryptocurrency theft surpassed the $$ 1 billion mark, with hackers linked to the North Korean government responsible for the majority of malicious activity in 2024. According to a study by Chainalysis, cybercriminals stole a total of $$ 2.2 billion in crypto assets this year, an increase of 21% compared to 2023.

North Korean groups were responsible for $$ 1.34 billion of this amount, representing 61% of the total stolen, with an increase of 102.88% compared to the previous year.

Hackers associated with Kim Jong-un have carried out 47 cyberattacks on crypto wallets in the last 12 months, using advanced malware and social engineering techniques. The stolen cryptocurrencies are used to finance the development of weapons of mass destruction and North Korean ballistic missiles.

Most of the attacks occurred between January and July, totaling US$$ 1.58 billion. After the alliance between North Korea and Russia in June, attacks decreased by 53.73%, but new campaigns are expected for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The report recommends that decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms strengthen their cybersecurity solutions, as they have been the main target of cybercriminals in the last three years.

Source: Tecmundo