Penguin Business snaps up White's 'staggering' investigation into North Korea's cyber war

Award-winning journalist Geoff White’s investigation into North Korea’s cyber war, based on his podcast "The Lazarus Heist", has been netted by Penguin Business. 

Lydia Yadi, senior commissioning editor at Penguin Life and Penguin Business, bought world rights from Luigi Bonomi at LBA Books. The Lazarus Heist: From Hollywood to High Finance: Inside North Korea’s Global Cyber War follows the success of the BBC World Service podcast which White co-presented with US journalist Jean Lee. The title is slated for publication on 9th June 2022. North American and Japanese rights are under offer. 

The blurb reads: “Meet the Lazarus Group, a shadowy cabal of hackers accused of working on behalf of the North Korean state. Investigators believe they form one of the most dangerous criminal enterprises on the planet, having stolen more than $1bn in an international crime spree. Their targets allegedly include central banks, Hollywood film studios and even the British National Health Service. North Korea denies the allegations, saying the accusations are American attempts to tarnish its image. 

“In this staggering global investigation, journalist Geoff White examines how the hackers have harnessed cutting-edge technology to launch a decade-long campaign of brazen and merciless raids on its richer, more powerful adversaries. It’s not just money they’re after. It’s claimed that the Lazarus Group’s tactics have been used to threaten democracies, gag North Korea’s critics and destabilize global peace. 

“From the bustling streets of Dhaka, to the glamorous studios of Hollywood, to the glittering casinos of Macau and the secretive dynastic court of Pyongyang, this shocking story uncovers the secret world of the Lazarus Group, their victims and the people who have tried—and ultimately, so far failed—to stop them.” 

White is a global specialist on cybercrime and one of the UK’s leading journalists in the field, working for the BBC, Channel 4 News, the Sunday Times and more. During a career spanning 20 years he has won multiple awards and reported on the biggest global tech stories, including the Snowden leaks. His podcast series “The Dark Web” has been a top 10 hit on Audible since its launch in 2017 and “The Lazarus Heist,” was a hit around the world, including reaching number one in the UK Apple chart. 

Yadi said: “Geoff White tells the shocking story of how the hackers’ tactics are threatening global politics and security. Fearless reporting with vivid storytelling, this is investigative journalism at its finest. I’m thrilled to be publishing this important book to help shine a light on the shadowy world of cybercrime and its very real and serious implications.” 

White commented: “Hackers shutting down a hospital emergency room used to be the stuff of Hollywood films scripts. Now it’s reality. Over recent years we’ve watched as cybercriminals have hit everything from fuel supplies to the political process. Among these online adversaries, the Lazarus Group is widely viewed as one of the most dangerous and unpredictable. Understanding its alleged campaign of global electronic mayhem is key to grasping perhaps the most urgent threat facing our increasingly digital existence.”