South Korea, Japan buffeted by hacks as AI lowers bar for cybercriminals

South Korean and Japanese companies are racing to strengthen cyber defences after a wave of attacks that cybersecurity experts say are highlighting how AI may be lowering the bar for criminals with limited technical skills.



Nine South Korean banks and two mega-churches are probing cyberattacks that may have involved AI tools, while Japanese companies including Daiwa Securities, SoftBank and the Lawson convenience store chain have been hit by a recent surge in cyber incidents.



Authorities are still investigating whether and how AI was used in many of the breaches. But cybersecurity specialists say the technology is helping attackers automate tasks from scanning for software vulnerabilities to crafting phishing campaigns, making cybercrime faster, cheaper and harder to detect.