DOJ seizes $500K from North Korean hackers who targeted healthcare

The Justice Department has recovered around $500,000 in cryptocurrency that was paid as ransom to North Korean hackers. The FBI filed a sealed seizure warrant and, with the help of a victim’s cooperation, was able to disrupt the activities of a North Korean state-sponsored group and identify a previously unidentified ransomware strain. The recovery case highlights the importance of reporting cyber incidents to law enforcement and cooperating with investigations. The FBI, Homeland Security, and the Department of Treasury have recently warned that North Korea-sponsored groups are targeting US healthcare providers with ransomware campaigns.