It had to happen ... South Korea warns of possible AI use in banking hacks as 68,000 people affected

Artificial intelligence (AI) may have been employed in recent cyberattacks targeting South Korea's financial sector, according to President Lee Jae Myung. The president made this statement during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, as police announced the initiation of an investigation. Over 68,000 individuals have been affected by the breaches, with more than seven financial institutions, including major South Korean banks, reporting customer data compromises in the past week.

President Lee expressed growing concern over AI's potential to facilitate hacking for those lacking technical expertise, stating that AI has made hacking easier. He emphasized that AI-driven hacking methods are becoming more sophisticated, causing widespread damage that surpasses past incidents. The government, along with companies and society at large, must acknowledge the severity of the situation and remain vigilant.

Police have launched an investigation at the president's request. A government official indicated that there is a high likelihood that Artex AI, an open-source security testing tool with suspected Chinese origins, was utilized in the attacks. However, it was noted that the use of AI does not necessarily imply Chinese involvement, as attackers can exploit various IP addresses across multiple locations, making it challenging to attribute the attacks to a specific nation based on IP addresses alone.