[EXPLAINER] How AI emerged as new threat in Korea's bank hacking crisis

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a new threat in Korea's recent banking crisis, as hackers leverage autonomous penetration-testing tools powered by AI to breach major financial institutions. This development has raised significant concerns among cybersecurity experts and regulators alike.

Traditionally, hackers had to manually test security defenses, identify vulnerabilities, and devise methods to exploit them. However, the advent of AI has enabled cybercriminals to automate much of these processes, reducing the need for extensive human intervention. Investigators have uncovered traces of an AI-powered tool capable of autonomous penetration testing in a series of recent cyberattacks targeting Korea's major banks.

Several banks have reported data breaches and hacking attempts since last week, with Shinhan Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, Hana Bank, Yegaram Savings Bank, and BNK Busan Bank all affected. Personal information belonging to thousands of customers has been exposed, including names, phone numbers, annual income, and loan limits. Shinhan Bank alone reported that approximately 25,000 customers were impacted, while KB Kookmin Bank revealed that 119 customers were affected, and Hana Bank disclosed that 89 customers' personal information was compromised.

The hacking spree has drawn particular attention due to the involvement of an AI-powered tool known as <tool_name>. The use of AI in cyberattacks represents a significant shift in the tactics employed by hackers, highlighting the need for banks and financial institutions to enhance their cybersecurity measures and stay ahead of evolving threats.