Federal prosecutors announced the indictment of Rim Jong Hyok, a North Korean military intelligence operative, for his role in a conspiracy to hack into American healthcare providers, NASA, U.S. military bases, and international entities.
The indictment, unveiled on July 25, 2024, in Kansas City, Kansas, details Hyok’s involvement in stealing sensitive information and deploying ransomware to fund further cyberattacks.
Rim Jong Hyok is accused of laundering money through a Chinese bank, using the proceeds to acquire computer servers and finance additional cyberattacks targeting defense, technology, and government entities globally. The indictment highlights his connection to the Andariel Unit of North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau, a state-sponsored group responsible for these malicious activities.
The cyberattacks on American hospitals and healthcare providers disrupted patient care, underscoring the severe impact of such crimes on public health. Prosecutors allege that Hyok targeted 17 entities across 11 U.S. states, including NASA and U.S. military bases. Defense and energy companies in China, Taiwan, and South Korea were also among the victims. Over three months, Hyok and his team infiltrated NASA’s computer systems, extracting over 17 gigabytes of unclassified data. They also accessed systems of defense companies in Michigan and California and breached Randolph Air Force Base in Texas and Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.
This article has been indexed from CySecurity News – Latest Information Security and Hacking Incidents
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