Crypto Craze: North Korea's Big Haul in 2024

In 2024, North Korea scored big in the crypto world, raking in over $659 million from hacking major exchanges like WazirX from India and DMM Bitcoin from Japan. The Lazarus Group, North Korea's hacking squad, didn't just use high-tech tricks. They also sent people posing as job seekers to become insiders at blockchain companies. The U. S. , Japan, and South Korea teamed up to warn businesses, especially those in tech and freelancing, to look out for these sneaky moves. It's all about staying smart and safe in the digital world. Earlier reports claimed North Korea had bagged $3 billion in crypto between 2017 and 2023 for their nuclear programs. The numbers from 2024 are just as eye-opening, with the hackers responsible for 61% of all stolen crypto that year. But how about the victims? Many were forced to restructure or suspend trading after these attacks. The whole thing shows how vulnerable our systems can be and why we need better defenses. So, next time you're reading about another big hack, remember it's not just about tech, but also about people and the old-fashioned way of sneaking in.