Official announcements from the U.S. Department of Justice or cybersecurity firms

North Korean Rim Jong Hyok Indicted for Hacking U.S. Hospitals, NASA with Ransomware

Jul 25, 2024, 07:59 PM

A North Korean military intelligence operative, Rim Jong Hyok, has been indicted for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to hack U.S. hospitals. The indictment includes charges of deploying ransomware to disrupt healthcare operations and extort money. The U.S. State Department's Rewards for Justice program is offering up to $10 million for information on Rim Jong Hyok. Additionally, the FBI has seized $600,000 in virtual currency proceeds from North Korean hackers, which will be returned to the victims of the ransomware attacks. The cyberattacks also targeted NASA, U.S. military bases, and international entities in China, Taiwan, and South Korea. The Justice Department stated that the proceeds from these attacks were used to fund cyber espionage activities.