GMO links Artex AI agent to attacks on Japan firms

GMO Internet Group’s security arm said in an Oct. 19 blog post that Artex, a China-linked artificial-intelligence agent, was used in cyberattacks on Japanese companies.

The GMO blog post came after eight firms disclosed leaked or possibly leaked data in September and October, with affected companies spanning retail, logistics and finance.

GMO said its investigation found six attacking-device units aimed only at Japanese firms. It described Artex as an artificial-intelligence penetration tool, software used to test systems for vulnerabilities, with strong capability to diagnose weaknesses.

The report broadens concerns about AI-assisted cyber activity in East Asia. The Straits Times said a separate investigation by another security firm indicated Artex involvement in unauthorised access incidents at South Korean financial institutions since late September.

The available account does not identify the Japanese companies, give the volume of exposed records or establish who directed the attacks. The China-linked description is attributed to the security findings reported by GMO and The Straits Times.

“The government is analysing whether there was malicious use of AI after hearing from companies that sustained damage,” Toshiharu Furukawa, Japan’s minister in charge of cybersecurity, said at an Oct. 20 press conference. He said the government would continue efforts to prevent cyberattacks.

Source: news report, The Straits Times, Oct. 20, 2026.