India flags Chinese-linked AI tools in hacking campaign against financial firms

India's cybersecurity agency, CERT-In, has identified a hacking group called Crafty Falcon responsible for a series of AI-driven attacks on financial firms across India. The group, which uses publicly available AI tools, has compromised non-bank lenders, fintech firms, and cryptocurrency exchanges. CERT-In revealed that at least two of the tools used in these attacks are linked to China.

The advisory, issued on November 4, did not specify the affected companies or the extent of financial losses. The attacks were reportedly timed around holidays, weekends, and other periods of low monitoring to evade detection. CERT-In's advisory came amid a surge in cyberattacks on Indian banks and non-bank lenders in recent weeks, prompting authorities to tighten cybersecurity measures.