Tokyo, Oct. 20 (Jiji Press)–A Chinese artificial intelligence tool called Artex is likely to have been used in cyberattacks targeting Japanese companies, an investigation by a Japanese cybersecurity business has found. GMO Cybersecurity by Ierae Inc., a subsidiary of GMO Internet Group Inc., traced cyberattacks targeting Japanese companies to six servers, all of which used Artex, an AI-powered penetration testing tool. Cyberattacks originating from the six servers targeted Japanese financial and logistics companies, eight of which disclosed information breaches between September and October. “Multiple incidents of damage have resulted from attacks by the same group,” GMO Cybersecurity said. Artex is believed to have been used in cyberattacks targeting financial institutions in South Korea as well. Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated as advanced AI is used, while the damage they cause, including the exposure of vast amounts of personal information, is growing. Strengthening cybersecurity defenses is an urgent priority for many businesses. The government is also becoming increasingly concerned about the recent string of data breaches. Digital transformation minister Toshiharu Furukawa told a press conference Tuesday that the government is “conducting a detailed analysis of the potential misuse of AI and its actual use, taking into account findings from expert organizations.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
