A new study shows that hackers stole $2.2bn in cryptocurrencies this year. North Korean hackers took $1.3bn, pretending to be IT workers. They infiltrated technology firms to steal digital currencies. This is more than double what they stole last year. The price of bitcoin has doubled this year too.
The study says that hacking increased by 21% from last year. Most of the theft happened because private keys were compromised. These keys control access to users’ assets on crypto platforms. Centralised exchanges have a lot of user funds, so losing private keys can be very bad.
Some big thefts this year include $300m stolen from a Japanese exchange and $235m lost in India. The US government says North Korea uses cybercrime to get around international sanctions. They indicted 14 North Koreans for trying to extort money from US companies for weapons programmes. The State Department is offering a reward for information on the scheme.
Vocabulary List:
- Hackers /ˈhækərz/ (noun): Individuals who gain unauthorized access to computer systems often for malicious purposes.
- Infiltrated /ˈɪn.fɪl.treɪ.tɪd/ (verb): To penetrate or gain access to an organization or system often secretly.
- Compromised /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪzd/ (verb): To weaken security or integrity of something typically by exposing it to danger.
- Theft /θɛft/ (noun): The act of stealing; the wrongful taking and carrying away of the personal property of another.
- Sanctions /ˈsæŋkʃənz/ (noun): Penalties or restrictions imposed by one country on another often to influence behavior.
- Extort /ɪkˈstɔːrt/ (verb): To obtain something especially money through force or threats.
How much do you know?
According to the study, how much money did hackers steal in cryptocurrencies this year?
Where did most of the theft by hackers occur?
What is the reason stated in the study for most of the theft in cryptocurrencies?
Which country indicted 14 North Koreans for attempting to extort money from US companies?
How much money was stolen from a Japanese exchange this year?
What percentage did hacking increase by this year compared to the previous year according to the study?
The price of bitcoin increased by 50% this year.
Losing private keys in crypto platforms is not a significant problem.
The State Department is not involved in any initiatives related to the hacking scheme.
North Korean hackers targeted technology firms to steal digital currencies.
North Korea uses cybercrime to avoid international sanctions according to the US government.
The theft in India was lower than the theft in Japan this year.
hackers stole $1.3bn in cryptocurrencies this year.
The US government indicted 14 North Koreans for attempting to extort money from US companies for programmes.
North Korean hackers infiltrated to steal digital currencies.
The US State Department is offering a reward for information on the hacking .
The price of bitcoin this year according to the given information.
The theft in this year was $235m according to the content.
