South Korea’s financial industry has been hit by another wave of cyberattacks, underlining the growing risk of AI-driven hacking across Asia, according to TechCrunch.
South Korea cyberattacks (Credits: TechCrunch)
The latest incidents affect brokerages Daishin Securities and Mirae Asset Global Investments, as well as crypto exchange Bithumb. They come roughly a month after a previous series of attacks on South Korean financial institutions, raising concerns that vulnerabilities extend well beyond the country’s banking system.
South Korea Cyberattacks Daishin Securities Data Breach
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 on the investigation, and says it will compensate for any losses as required by law.
Mirae Asset and Bithumb reported separate cybersecurity incidents on Wednesday, according to local media, though neither has confirmed that customer data was taken. The three incidents together paint a picture of a sector under sustained pressure rather than a single isolated breach.
AI Hacking Tools And Asia Cybersecurity Fears
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, though officials are still investigating the root cause of the latest breaches. The detail matters: AI tools that can probe systems at machine speed are lowering the barrier for large-scale attacks.
South Korea’s financial regulator has called for stronger cybersecurity measures following the string of attacks on financial firms and government agencies, and the country plans security checks on dozens of private-sector IT systems. Japan also reported a cybersecurity incident involving GMO Internet this week, following attacks on its own financial institutions, though investigators have not established a connection between the incidents in the two countries.
The wave underscores a wider regional challenge, with years of weak cybersecurity leaving institutions exposed just as AI-driven attack tools become more capable. For customers, the immediate advice from firms remains familiar: watch for phishing attempts using leaked contact details and report anything suspicious.
Also Read: Bithumb Hacked Through Employee System As South Korean Financial Firms Face Cyberattacks and Chinese Hackers Used AI Agents To Spy On 2,250 Companies
Source: TechCrunch AI — read the full story there.
