TechFlow news — On July 28, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, North Korean hacker Rim Jong Hyok has been charged for his involvement in ransomware attacks targeting U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers. Rim Jong Hyok and his associates developed and deployed a custom ransomware named "Maui," which was used to attack and encrypt computer networks at multiple U.S. hospitals and medical institutions, then demanded ransom payments from victims in exchange for data decryption.
The hackers laundered the virtual currency proceeds from these ransomware attacks, using the funds to support other cyberattack operations conducted by the North Korean government. The Department of Justice and the FBI intercepted some of these ransomware attacks and related money laundering transactions, recovering approximately $114,000 in virtual currency proceeds. In addition to ransomware activities, Rim Jong Hyok and his associates used the illicit funds to purchase cyber infrastructure, further conducting hacking operations against defense, technology, and government entities worldwide to steal sensitive information.
Furthermore, the U.S. State Department has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Rim Jong Hyok.
