South Korea financial sector hit by new wave of cyberattacks

South Korea’s financial institutions have been hit by another wave of cyberattacks, with brokerages Daishin Securities and Mirae Asset Global Investments and crypto exchange Bithumb among the affected firms. The latest incidents come roughly a month after a series of attacks on South Korean financial institutions and highlight growing concerns about AI-driven hacking in Asia. Officials are still investigating the root causes of the latest breaches.

Latest incidents affect brokerages and crypto exchange

According to local news, Daishin reported a cyberattack that exposed the personal information of 38,490 customers, including names, email addresses, and mobile phone numbers. The company has notified affected customers, is cooperating with authorities in the investigation, and will compensate for any losses as required by law. Mirae and Bithumb reported separate cybersecurity incidents on Wednesday, though neither has confirmed that customer data was taken.

Earlier attacks linked to AI tool

Security researchers linked the September wave of attacks on South Korea to a suspected China-based hacker who relied on an AI penetration testing tool called Artex. Officials are still investigating the root cause of the latest breaches. The incident has raised concerns about vulnerabilities beyond South Korea’s banking systems.

Regulator responds as regional concerns grow

South Korea’s financial regulator called for stronger cybersecurity measures following a string of attacks on financial firms and government agencies, per officials in Seoul on Wednesday. The country also plans to conduct security checks on dozens of IT systems in the private sector. Japan also reported a cybersecurity incident involving GMO Internet, following a series of attacks on its financial institutions, and investigators have not established a connection between the incidents across Asia.

Sources: TechCrunch