AI-Abused Cyberattacks Surge in Japan and South Korea, Forcing Government and Corporate Response

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Summary · why it matters

Cyberattacks are mounting across Japan and South Korea, forcing governments and companies to respond urgently. In Japan, unauthorized access has surged broadly across industries, hitting financial firms such as Daiwa Securities and Sompo Japan, retailers including Bookoff Group Holdings and Lawson, the restaurant chain Yakiniku King, and car-sharing operator Times Mobility. The impact was especially severe at IDC Frontier, a SoftBank subsidiary in the cloud business, where the attack left 495 contracted companies and local governments unable to view their websites or exposed their data. In South Korea, nine banks and large churches suffered cyberattacks that may have used AI tools, and U.S. cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said a 26-year-old suspect living in China most likely could not have carried out the attack without AI assistance. According to TrendAI, cybersecurity incidents involving organizations based in Japan from January through September this year have already surpassed the total for all of last year, with 86 cases in September, up about 18 percent from August and about 37 percent from July. Experts warn that the spread of AI is making it easier even for criminals without advanced skills to launch attacks, making cybercrime cheaper and more accessible.

Impact on assets 8

Cybersecurity & Digital Trust▲
Crowdstrike Holdings Inc
CRWD
▲ PositiveDemandrelevance

CrowdStrike is cited as the cybersecurity firm analyzing the AI-assisted South Korea bank attacks, highlighting demand for its threat-detection services.

Trend Micro Incorporated
4704
▲ PositiveDemandrelevance

TrendAI (Trend Micro) data shows Japan cyber incidents already surpassing last year's total, underscoring demand for its security offerings.

Digital Finance & Tokenization▼
SoftBank Corp.
9434
▼ NegativeRegulationrelevance

SoftBank subsidiary IDC Frontier was hit by a cyberattack that left 495 contracted companies and local governments unable to view websites or exposed their data.

Artificial Intelligence▼
SoftBank Group Corp.
9984
▼ NegativeRegulationrelevance

SoftBank subsidiary IDC Frontier was severely hit, leaving 495 contracted companies and local governments unable to view websites or exposing data.

Financials▼
Daiwa Securities Group Inc.
8601
▼ NegativeRegulationrelevance

Daiwa Securities suffered unauthorized access in the broad surge of cyberattacks hitting Japanese financial firms.

Aging Population▼
Sompo Holdings,Inc.
8630
▼ NegativeRegulationrelevance

Sompo Japan, part of Sompo Holdings, suffered unauthorized access as cyberattacks surged across Japanese financial firms.

Consumer Discretionary▼
Industrials▲

Off-coverage companies 1

Lawson, Inc.i
Private▼ NegativeRegulationrelevance

Lawson was among the Japanese retailers hit by unauthorized access amid the broad surge in cyberattacks.