19 IP addresses behind recent hacking attacks against Korean financial institutions: watchdog

The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) in South Korea has identified 19 IP addresses across the United States, Japan, and ten other countries as the source of recent hacking attacks on Korean financial institutions. These attacks have raised concerns about potential data breaches affecting multiple financial firms. The implicated IP addresses are believed to have been used in AI-driven hacking campaigns.

Several major Korean banks, including Hana Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, and Shinhan Bank, experienced back-to-back leaks of customer information last week. Hana Bank reported the leakage of personal data for 89 customers, while Shinhan Bank disclosed that around 25,000 customer records, encompassing names, phone numbers, and annual income, were compromised. Woori Bank and NH Nonghyup Bank also fell victim to similar attacks, although unauthorized access was thwarted, preventing any leaks of personal information.

The Financial Supervisory Service has prioritized a thorough investigation into the attacks, with President Lee Jae Myung urging an exhaustive inquiry. In response to these incidents, financial institutions are actively fortifying their security systems to mitigate the risk of further hacking attempts.