July 26, 2024 at 07:03AM
The US Department of State is offering a $10 million reward for information on Rim Jong Hyok, a North Korean national charged with hacking hospitals, military bases, and NASA. Operating on behalf of a North Korean military intelligence agency, Rim and his group, APT45, have targetted foreign businesses, government entities, and defense industry for cyberespionage and financial gain.
Based on the meeting notes, the US Department of State has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information on Rim Jong Hyok, a North Korean national charged with hacking hospitals, military bases, and NASA. Rim is allegedly a member of the hacking group APT45 or Andariel, which operates on behalf of a North Korean military intelligence agency, targeting foreign businesses, government entities, and the defense industry for cyberespionage and financial gain.
Rim has been charged in a US court for allegedly hacking American healthcare organizations, NASA, military bases, and international entities. The Department of State stated that Rim and others conspired to hack into US hospitals, install Maui ransomware, and extort ransoms. The US alleges that the illicit funds obtained were used to fuel North Korea’s cyber operations and its arms race.
The threat actors targeted a US-based defense contractor and stole more than 30 gigabytes of data, including technical information on older military aircraft and satellite material. Andariel also hacked healthcare providers, defense contractors, Air Force bases, and NASA’s Office of Inspector General.
Government agencies in the US, Korea, and the UK have published a joint advisory on the advanced persistent threat (APT) actor, sharing information on its malware, tactics, and victimology. Mandiant and Microsoft have also provided detailed insights into the group’s activities. Additionally, Rewards for Justice encourages anyone with information on Rim Jong Hyok and the associated activities to contact them via the Tor-based tips-reporting channel.