- Hackers targeted Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s Google account, raising concerns about government-backed cyber threats.
- North Korea’s Lazarus Group is suspected of involvement following a Google warning sent to Zhao.
- The Lazarus Group has been linked to major crypto thefts, including the $1.4 billion Bybit hack earlier this year.
- Experts report increasing efforts by North Korean Hackers to infiltrate crypto firms by posing as job applicants and remote IT workers.
- Crypto industry losses to North Korean hackers rose sharply to $1.34 billion in 2024 across 47 incidents, more than doubling totals from 2023.
Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, co-founder of Binance, was the recent target of an attempted cyber intrusion, according to a warning sent by Google. Hackers tried to access Zhao’s Google account, which he shared publicly, signaling a potential cyberattack from government-backed groups.
Zhao mentioned on X that he receives these Google alerts occasionally, and suspects the notorious North Korean Lazarus Group may be responsible. The Lazarus Group is known for large-scale cryptocurrency heists, including the $1.4 billion Bybit exchange hack that happened on February 21.
United States intelligence reports, referenced by blockchain adviser Anndy Lian, describe North Korean agents posing as IT workers to channel illicit earnings back to Pyongyang. Lian stated, “I personally know that a government official who got a similar prompt as CZ, saying that his account is detected with government-backed hackers trying to steal his password.” He noted that attempts to get more information from Google were unsuccessful for security reasons.
Zhao had previously warned of North Korean hackers seeking employment within crypto companies to gain insider access to sensitive systems. On September 18, Zhao posted that these hackers pose as job candidates for positions in development, security, and finance, providing them with opportunities to breach internal defenses.
A team of ethical hackers, the Security Alliance (SEAL), reported at least 60 individuals impersonating North Korean IT workers in attempts to infiltrate U.S. crypto exchanges. In May, Coinbase suffered a data breach affecting less than 1% of its active users, which could cost up to $400 million in reimbursements. In June, four North Korean agents stole $900,000 from crypto startups by working as freelance developers.
According to Chainalysis data, North Korean hackers stole $1.34 billion in digital assets during 2024, spanning 47 separate incidents. Cybersecurity experts advise crypto firms to strengthen their protections with dual wallet management and real-time AI threat monitoring systems.
✅ Follow BITNEWSBOT on Telegram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com, and Google News for instant updates.
Previous Articles:
- Railgun Token Soars 300% After Ethereum Foundation Integration
- SoftBank Pledges Arm Stock for $5B Margin Loan to Back OpenAI
- Binance Life Memecoin Soars on BNB Chain After Founders’ Posts
- Bitcoin Slips to $121K as Jobless Claims, Fed Uncertainty Weigh on Crypto
- Crypto Salaries Shrink in 2024 Despite Bitcoin Boom, Report Finds
