President Lee Jae Myung said signs of AI use had appeared in recent hacks on South Korean banks. Police are investigating breaches of customer data at several lenders.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Tuesday that AI models are believed to have been used in recent hacking incidents against banks, and he called for cybersecurity methods suited to the AI era, Reuters reported.
Lee told a cabinet meeting that signs of AI use had emerged in some incidents and had caused public concern. He asked officials to establish the circumstances quickly and to concentrate resources on limiting damage. Reuters said police had opened an investigation into attacks that exposed customers' personal information, citing Yonhap.
The Financial Services Commission said on Friday that Shinhan Bank, KB Kookmin Bank and others had reported cyberattacks. Yonhap reported that Hana Bank and Woori Bank were also affected, Reuters said. The Financial Supervisory Service said on Tuesday it had shared 28 unique suspect IP addresses and some country information with firms.
The Wall Street Journal reported that officials said data on 68,000 people were stolen and that investigators saw traces of a Chinese tool called Artex AI. Reuters did not name that tool. Officials have not identified culprits. The Journal said the attacks were traced to addresses in about a dozen countries, including the United States, Japan and Germany.
Lee ordered an immediate assessment. No arrests had been announced by Tuesday, and details of the alleged AI tools remained undisclosed in the Reuters account.
People Sentiments Negative
- President Lee said signs of AI use in the hacks had caused considerable public concern.
- Lee told ministers to establish the facts quickly and limit damage.