Changpeng CZ Zhao, founder of the crypto exchange Binance, received a security warning from Google about a potential state-sponsored hacking attempt, sparking speculation about the involvement of the North Korean Lazarus Group.
In a post on X on October 10, Zhao shared a screenshot of the warning indicating an attempted access from government-backed attackers, commenting:
I get this warning from Google every now and then. Is the Lazarus Group behind it?
Despite the seriousness of the warning, Zhao downplayed its significance, explaining that he does not store any sensitive information on the account and urging his followers to be vigilant against repeated hacking attempts.
The Lazarus Group is considered one of the most dangerous cyber groups in the world and is believed to be operating under the direct command of the North Korean regime to finance its nuclear program by launching digital attacks on crypto companies and stealing digital assets around the world.
In recent years, the group has been blamed for several major attacks, most notably the Bybit hack, as well as attempts to target major wallets and exchanges like the UK’s Lykke and India’s WazirX.
Cybersecurity firm Elliptic estimates that the group’s stolen assets could represent approximately 13% of North Korea’s GDP.
