South Korea’s financial sector has experienced another wave of cyberattacks, raising concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities and the potential use of artificial intelligence in hacking activities.

The latest reported incidents involve Daishin Securities, Mirae Asset Global Investments and cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb.

The developments come approximately one month after a separate series of cyberattacks targeted financial institutions in the country.

According to local media reports, Daishin Securities disclosed that a cyberattack exposed the personal information of 38,490 customers, including their names, email addresses and mobile phone numbers.

The company said it had notified affected customers and was cooperating with authorities investigating the incident. It also indicated that compensation would be provided for any losses in accordance with applicable laws. Mirae Asset Global Investments and Bithumb also reported separate cybersecurity incidents on Wednesday.

However, neither organisation had confirmed whether customer information was compromised. Investigators have yet to establish the causes of the latest incidents or determine whether they are connected to previous attacks. Security researchers had linked an earlier wave of attacks in September to a suspected China based hacker who reportedly used an artificial intelligence penetration testing tool called Artex.

South Korea’s financial regulator has called for stronger cybersecurity measures following repeated attacks against financial companies and government agencies. Officials have also announced plans to conduct security assessments of dozens of information technology systems in the private sector.

The measures are intended to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen protection against cyber threats targeting financial infrastructure and sensitive customer information.

The incidents form part of wider cybersecurity concerns across Asia. Japan recently reported a cybersecurity incident involving GMO Internet, following attacks affecting financial institutions in the country.

Although the developments highlight the growing challenges facing organisations that manage financial data, investigators have not established a connection between the incidents in South Korea and Japan.

The Financial Services Commission, Daishin Securities, Bithumb and Mirae Asset Global Investments had not immediately responded to requests for comment.

Source: TechCrunch