Government Launches Security Checks on 28,000 Companies Amid Financial Hacking Wave

The Ministry of Science and ICT has moved to respond to financial hacking incidents, activating a 24-hour emergency response system with the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) and recommending security checks for roughly 28,000 companies. While the investigation into and response to the financial hacking incidents falls under the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service, and the Financial Security Institute, the roles of the Ministry of Science and ICT and KISA are distinct from these efforts.

KISA has strengthened the response framework of its Korea Internet Incident Response Center (KISC) and activated the 24-hour emergency system. It has stepped up monitoring of major corporate websites and reinforced incident response personnel, while keeping emergency dispatch teams on standby around the clock.

The ministry and KISA are providing companies with related cyberthreat intelligence through platforms such as Booho Nara and the Cyber Threat Intelligence Analysis and Sharing system (C-TAS), encouraging them to bolster their own security. In particular, they sent emails recommending security checks to approximately 28,000 companies that have registered a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

For internet protocol (IP) addresses of overseas attackers identified by the Financial Security Institute, the threat information was passed on to the relevant cloud service providers, along with a request to take necessary measures such as blocking malicious activity.