According to the statement, state-sponsored North Korean hackers used a new strain of ransomware named “Maui” to lock the systems of two hospitals in Kansas and Colorado in May 2021 and April 2022. To restore access to their computers, the medical centers had to pay ransoms of about $100,000 and $120,000 in Bitcoin to the cyber criminals.
The Kansas hospital notified the FBI, who was then able to trace the cryptocurrency ransom to money launderers in China. The FBI was able to acquire access to the receiving accounts, seize the assets, and eventually restore the money to the victim institutions in May 2022.
“Reporting cyber events to law enforcement and helping with investigations not only protects the United States, but it's also smart business,” Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen added. “Reimbursement to ransom victims demonstrates why it pays to collaborate with law enforcement.”
It is unclear where the extra $280,000 seized came from, or how Bitcoin price fluctuations affected the final amount collected. In addition, no arrests were mentioned in the announcement.
North Korean hackers have been a significant presence in the bitcoin world. The state-sponsored cyber group Lazarus Group abused the Ronin bridge for about $551.8 million at the start of the year; major members of the crypto community believe that all prominent crypto organizations should be considered targets.
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