Millions Hit in South Korea Cyber Attack

South Korea’s communications regulator announced yesterday authorities and online security analysts are assessing the damage caused by what is being described as the largest data breach in the country’s history. 

SK Communications discovered earlier this week that malicious code was used to hack its sites, the Nate portal, the third most visited search engine and email platform in the country and Cyworld, described as Korea’s equivalent to Facebook. Officials…

Defector Claims North Korea Grooms Cyber Terrorists

North Korea is expanding its force of future cyber warriors, and is even sending young hacker prodigies abroad to enhance their skills, according to a representative from a group of North Korean defectors, Korea Joongang Daily reports.

Kim Heung-kwang of the North Korea Intellectuals Solidarity said yesterday North Korea has upped its number of cyber terrorists from 500 to 3,000.

When talented young hackers are identified,…

South Korea Beefs up Cybersecurity to Stave off Attacks from North

South Korea plans to ramp up cybersecurity within the government to counter cyber attacks from its northern neighbor, AFP reports.

Forty-five officials at 23 government agencies will be tapped to lead computer security and emergency planning in an effort to protect against continuous web-based attacks, a home affairs ministry official told AFP.

South Korean prosecutors earlier this…

N. Korean Hackers Accused of Breaching S. Korean Bank

North Korean hackers were behind last month’s cyber attack that brought down the network of a South Korean bank, according to prosecutors in Seoul.

Reuters reported the April 12 take down of South Korea’s agricultural banking cooperative Nonghyup’s computer system impacted millions of customers who could not use the bank’s credit cards and ATMs for more than a week.

The attacks were described by prosecutors as “meticulously…

Hacker Blackmails S. Korean Company over Leaks of Stolen Customer Info

A hacker stole customer names and home addresses from a major South Korean financial lender then blackmailed the company to not release the information online, according to UPI.

Hyundai Capital, an affiliate of South Korea’s top automaker, said critical financial information was not released. Investigators were unsure if the hacker obtained cellphone numbers and email addresses for the 420,000 people whose data was accessed.

Yonhap news agency…

South Korea under DDoS Bombardment

Forty websites belonging to the South Korean government, agencies and businesses came under attack yesterday, including those of the presidential Blue House, the U.S. forces, the military Joint Chiefs of Staff, the ministries of foreign affairs, defense and unification, the intelligence agency, parliament and the tax office, AFP reported.

Cybersecurity company AhnLab confirmed the websites had been hit by DDoS attacks and estimated that up to…

Illegal Gambling Site Cyber Attacked Rivals to Steal Customers

A South Korean web hosting company that allegedly hosted an illegal gambling site is in hot water for launching a series of cyber attacks on competing online casinos in an attempt to snag business from them, according to an online poker site.

Lee, head of the computer server company, along with Park, a hacker working for an Incheon-based crime gang that ran the gambling site, are…

North Korea Accuses South of Hacking into Website

North Korea is accusing South Korean web users of hacking into one of its websites, calling the behavior a provocation aimed at undermining its national dignity, according to The Associated Press.

The North’s state-run Uriminzokkiri website said South Korean Internet users recently deleted articles on the site and posted messages slandering the North’s dignity, AP reported.

One of the messages read: “They…

Hackers Cyber Attack North Korean Leader, Heir

Hackers have attacked North Korea’s official YouTube and Twitter accounts, posting an animation showing Kim Jong-il’s son and rumored heir driving a sports car into a crowd of starving countrymen, according to media reports.

Reuters Africa reports the cyber attack occurred Saturday, which is believed to be Kim Jong-un’s birthday, and called for a revolution against the communist nation’s ruling dynasty.

One of the messages posted on…

China-Based Hackers Steal North Korean Defense Secrets

Hackers in China have stolen secrets on South Korea‘s defense and foreign affairs by using fake emails claiming to come from Seoul officials and diplomats, a spokesman for the South Korean National Intelligence Service told AFP.

Hackers sent emails purporting to be from South Korean diplomats, presidential aides and other people familiar to Seoul officials. The messages, disguised as important information on North Korea’s economy, contained attachments…