South Korea finance firms report new cyberattacks and one data leak

In short: Several South Korean financial companies reported new cyberattacks, and one firm said customer contact details were exposed.

What's going on

South Korea’s financial industry has been hit by another wave of cyberattacks, according to TechCrunch. The latest reports involve two brokerages, Daishin Securities and Mirae Asset Global Investments, plus the crypto exchange Bithumb.

Daishin said the attack exposed personal information for 38,490 customers. Local media reported the exposed details included names, email addresses, and mobile phone numbers. Daishin said it notified affected customers, is working with authorities, and will compensate for losses as required by law.

Mirae and Bithumb also reported separate cybersecurity incidents on Wednesday, according to local media. Neither company has confirmed that customer data was taken.

The new incidents follow a September wave of attacks that reportedly targeted 16 South Korean financial firms. Security researchers linked that earlier wave to a suspected China-based hacker who used an AI penetration testing tool called Artex. A penetration testing tool is software meant to help test security by trying to break in, like a professional lock pick used for training, but it can be misused.

South Korea’s financial regulator has called for stronger cybersecurity steps after these repeated attacks. The country also plans security checks on dozens of private sector IT systems.

What to watch

Investigators have not confirmed whether the latest incidents are connected to the earlier attacks in South Korea or to recent incidents reported in Japan. People who use affected services may want to watch for official notices, and be cautious about suspicious emails or texts that use stolen contact details.

Source: TechCrunch AI