Microsoft disclosed that a hacker group with ties to the Chinese government had exploited AI to carry out attacks targeting several hundred organizations worldwide. The attacks exploited an autonomous AI agent called ARTEX, with some reportedly completed in a short period of time.
Microsoft in the United States disclosed that cyberattacks had been carried out using artificial intelligence to target organizations worldwide. The attacks were conducted by the hacker group “Storm (ストーム)–0940,” which has ties to the Chinese government and is said to have been active since 2021.
The AI that was exploited is called ARTEX (アルテックス). It reportedly targeted a broad range of industries, including automotive, energy, financial services, software, government agencies and media. ARTEX can operate autonomously without human intervention and is said to be capable of simultaneously attempting intrusions through multiple routes.
A characteristic of the attacks was that some were completed in a short period of time, and the attacks are said to have been conducted around the clock. The group is said to have targeted several hundred organizations worldwide since September. It is currently unknown whether any Japanese companies were included.
The article is paywalled, and the article does not disclose specific details regarding whether Japanese companies suffered damage or the scale of any damage.
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