Korean police arrest cyberhacking gang reportedly led by self-taught hacker, who allegedly used AI to breach 60 firms and received a mere $210 in ransom
In this case, crime really didn't pay. Much.
South Korean police have arrested a self-taught hacker allegedly leading a cyberhacking gang, which reportedly breached 60 firms using AI tools. The gang obtained 8.2 million records but only received around $210 in ransom. The stolen data included customer information like names, registration numbers, phone numbers, and addresses.
The gang used a combination of AI coding and an autonomous penetration testing system. Police received a complaint in June but officially started investigating in August, leading to the arrest of seven individuals, including the 32-year-old alleged ringleader. The ringleader, who majored in arts and physical education, learned hacking skills via YouTube videos and other sources.
Police believe the group worked on simulated hacking at a security firm between 2019 and 2022. The incident highlights the growing use of AI in cybercrime, despite the relatively small gains in this particular case.
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