South Korean financial firms and crypto exchange hit by new cyberattacks

South Korean financial institutions face a new wave of cyberattacks, hitting brokerages Daishin Securities and Mirae Asset Global Investments along with crypto exchange Bithumb. The incidents follow a previous series of attacks on South Korean financial firms in September, which security researchers linked to a suspected China-based hacker using an AI tool called Artex, though officials are still investigating the exact cause of these latest breaches.

Impact and Details

Daishin reported a cyberattack that leaked the personal data of 38,490 customers, including names, email addresses, and phone numbers. The firm has contacted affected users, is working with authorities, and plans to pay for losses as required by law. Mirae and Bithumb reported separate security incidents on Wednesday, but neither has confirmed whether customer data was stolen. Officials in Seoul announced that the financial regulator has demanded tighter security steps after the string of attacks on financial firms and government bodies, and the country plans security checks on dozens of private IT systems.

Context

These ongoing incidents highlight rising cybersecurity challenges across the region as hackers increasingly adopt advanced tools. Financial institutions remain prime targets for malicious actors due to the high value of customer data and monetary assets they manage.