Chinese AI tool ARTEX used in cyberattacks on South Korean banks and Japanese firms
2026-10-19 | JPN | incident | economic, reputational
Our take
ARTEX found the vulnerabilities and wrote the exploits on its own. Sixteen banks got the results.
The facts
A Chinese-developed AI tool, ARTEX, was used in cyberattacks breaching 16 South Korean banks and targeting around 80 Japanese companies, causing significant data leaks. The AI system autonomously identified vulnerabilities and executed exploits, exposing sensitive information and highlighting the growing threat of AI-driven cybercrime in East Asia.