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  Malware  South Korea Keeps DeepSeek AI Chatbot Off App Stores
Malware

South Korea Keeps DeepSeek AI Chatbot Off App Stores

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Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
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Next-Generation Technologies & Secure Development

Regulators Cite Privacy Concerns Over DeepSeek’s Data Collection Practices

Jayant Chakravarti (@JayJay_Tech) •
February 19, 2025    

South Korea Keeps DeepSeek AI Chatbot Off App Stores
Image: Shutterstock

South Korea’s data protection regulator has directed Chinese artificial intelligence company DeepSeek AI to withdraw its chatbot application from official app stores pending an inquiry into the chatbot’s compliance with data protection rules. South Korea is the latest government in the region to scrutinize the Chinese application.

See Also: 5 Myths of AI & Machine Learning Debunked


The Personal Information Protection Commission said Monday that it initiated an inquiry into the AI chatbot’s operations in South Korea to determine what personal data it collects, the legal basis for processing data, and whether it transfers collected user data to China.


“Amid media outlets voicing concerns over this AI chatbot service, the PIPC’s analysis found out traffic generated by third-party data transfers and insufficient transparency in DeepSeek’s privacy policy,” the regulator said.


The agency said it initiated an investigation into how the chatbot functions and asked the AI company to withdraw its application from application stores “until necessary updates are implemented.”

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To address South Korea’s inquiry, DeepSeek AI has appointed a contact person in the country to actively cooperate with the regulator’s investigation and demonstrate its chatbot’s compliance with data protection law. The company has also agreed to withdraw its chatbot application from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play Store pending completion of the inquiry.


The regulator’s decision follows the South Korean Ministry of Industry banning government employees from accessing DeepSeek’s AI chatbot, issuing a guidance to government employees to urge caution when using generative AI services. In addition to U.S. and European countries, Australia and Taiwan also have banned government agencies and officials from using the Chinese chatbot service for official purposes (see: Asian Governments Rush to Ban DeepSeek Over Privacy Concerns).


Korean news agency Yonhap reported earlier in February that the finance ministry also planned to block access to DeepSeek’s applications from PCs connected to external networks as part of a government-wide initiative to prevent the leak of critical information through generative AI services.


The National Intelligence Service justified the ban because the chatbot application collects excessive user data, uses live user information as learning data, engages in unrestricted information sharing with advertisers and stores Korean citizens’ data in servers located in China.


The intelligence agency also found inconsistencies in how the chatbot responded to questions about China’s Northeast Project, which Koreans view as an attempt by China to claim parts of Korean history and culture as its own. The agency also found issues with the Kimchi recipe, a traditional Korean dish which China has also tried to call as its own, and the Dano festival, which China attempted to assimilate into its traditional heritage.


NIS said the chatbot, unlike other generative AI services, collects personally identifiable information such as keyboard input patterns and features a function that helps it to communicate with servers based in China. The agency warned that the functionality “may result in chat history being transmitted.”


“The National Intelligence Service distributed an official document to government ministries emphasizing the need for security precautions when utilizing generative AI such as DeepSeek,” the agency said. “In the future, the National Intelligence Service will conduct a thorough inspection of the technical safety of DeepSeek in cooperation with relevant organizations, and will provide additional explanations to the public regarding the inspection results, if necessary.”





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    Boosting Cybersecurity for Small Businesses: Effective Strategies for Task Automation

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    Employing Automated Threat Detection

    One of the primary challenges in cybersecurity is the timely identification and response to potential threats. Small businesses can automate threat detection by deploying security information and event management (SIEM) or intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS). These tools analyze network traffic, log files, and system events, promptly alerting business owners to suspicious activities or potential breaches. Automating threat detection reduces the burden of manual monitoring and ensures faster incident response.

    Implementing Patch Management Systems

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    Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

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    Automating Security Auditing and Compliance

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    Deploying Automated Data Backups and Recovery

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    Educating Employees with Security Awareness Training

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    As cyber threats continue to evolve, small businesses must adopt proactive cybersecurity measures to protect their sensitive data and operations. By embracing automation, small businesses can effectively enhance their cyber defense capabilities. From automated threat detection and patch management to multi-factor authentication and data backups, these automation strategies provide small businesses with robust security solutions despite limited resources. Small businesses can mitigate risks, safeguard their digital assets, and focus on growth and innovation by automating cybersecurity tasks.

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    Don't underestimate the importance of ethical hacking. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, cybersecurity has never been more pressing. According to a report by Emergen Research, the cybersecurity industry is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.0% to 13.4% from 2022 to 2030. This surge in demand reflects the critical importance of ethical hackers in fortifying digital infrastructure against the relentless onslaught of cyber threats.

    Embracing the Journey: Continuous Learning and Certification for Ethical Hackers

    Becoming an ethical hacker requires diverse skills and knowledge. Understanding the types of hackers is crucial, as it provides insights into how they operate. Armed with this knowledge, ethical hackers delve into cutting-edge tools and techniques. They leverage their skills to identify vulnerabilities and devise countermeasures.

    The responsibilities of an ethical hacker transcend merely identifying weaknesses. They also recommend solutions and implement robust security measures. Their expertise helps organizations fortify their defenses, minimize breaches, and protect sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands.

    The Tools of Ethical Hacking

    Curious about the tools an ethical hacker uses? They have access to a diverse range of tools. These tools allow them to probe and analyze digital systems, uncover weaknesses, and assess the resilience of security measures. While the specific tools vary based on the objectives and preferences of individual ethical hackers, there are several standard tools they employ. 

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    Another essential tool in the ethical hacker's arsenal is Metasploit. Metasploit is an open-source framework that facilitates penetration testing and vulnerability assessment. It offers a wide range of exploits, payloads, and auxiliary modules, empowering ethical hackers to simulate real-world attack scenarios. Employing Metasploit's extensive collection of exploit codes, ethical hackers can uncover weaknesses, gain unauthorized access, and assess the system's defenses against potential threats.

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    References:

    "Cybersecurity Market, By Component (Hardware, Solution, Service), By Security Type, By Solution, By Application (IT & Telecom, Retail, BFSI, Healthcare, Defense & Government, Manufacturing, Energy, Others), By Region Forecast to 2032". Www.Emergenresearch.Com, 2023, https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/cyber-security-market. Accessed 25 May 2023.

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    Cyber Insurance: An Essential Safety Net

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    Coverage Tailored to Your Business

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    Cyber insurance is growing in importance as businesses become more digital and data-driven. It's not just about whether your business will experience a cyber-attack, but when it will happen. Data privacy laws are becoming more stringent, which means businesses can face hefty fines for failing to adequately protect customer data. Cyber liability insurance can provide coverage for these regulatory fines.

    Cyber Insurance - An Investment Worth Making

    Investing in cyber insurance is like putting on a seatbelt while driving. It doesn't prevent an accident, but it can significantly mitigate the damage if one occurs. Cyber insurance is an essential part of a comprehensive risk management strategy, providing financial protection and peace of mind in a digital age fraught with cyber threats. Regardless of your business size or industry, having cyber insurance can help you navigate the aftermath of a cyber-attack by protecting your financial resources.

    PSL’s Easy Guide to Understanding Cybersecurity

    The world of cybersecurity can often feel like a maze of technobabble and obscure acronyms. Yet in an era where our lives increasingly depend on digital infrastructure, it's important to have a basic understanding of the terminology involved. Learning about cybersecurity can help you avoid common mistakes and limit the chance of becoming a victim of these crimes.

    Here is an overview of common cybersecurity terms.

    1) Cybersecurity

    Let's start with the basics. Cybersecurity is simply the defense against digital attacks that target computers, mobile devices, networks, and servers. These attacks are typically aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information, extorting money from users, or interrupting normal business processes.

    2) Malware

    Malware is any malicious software that can damage or infiltrate computers without the user's consent.

    Here are the most well-known types of malware.

    Virus

    Like a biological virus, a computer virus attaches itself to a host (in this case, a file), and spreads when the file is shared, infecting other files and systems.

    Worm

    A worm is a standalone type of malware that will replicate itself to easily spread to other computers through a network.

    Trojan

    Named after the Greek myth, the Trojan horse, a Trojan is a form of malware that attempts to disguise itself as a normal program or file to trick users into either downloading or installing it.

    Ransomware

    This type of malware encrypts the user's files and demands payment to unlock them.

    Spyware

    Spyware is malware that's specifically designed to spy on user activity without their knowledge.

    3) Phishing

    Phishing is a common attack that tries to gain personal information by using deceptive emails and websites. The attacker, masquerading as a trustworthy entity, uses a variety of strategies to trick the victim into opening an instant message, email, or text message.

    4) Firewall

    A firewall is an IT security tool that controls network traffic using predetermined security rules. Think of it as a digital barrier limiting unauthorized access to your network or computer.

    5) VPN (Virtual Private Network)

    A VPN masks your internet protocol (IP) address to make your online actions nearly untraceable. VPN services establish encrypted connections to provide much greater privacy while using the internet.

    6) Encryption

    Encryption converts data into a code to prevent unauthorized access. When data is encrypted, it appears as gibberish unless you have the decryption key to convert it back to its original form.

    7) Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

    2FA is a common security process in which users must provide two different authentication factors to gain access to an account. For example, in addition to a password, you might also need to enter a code sent to your phone.

    8) Darknet/Dark Web

    The darknet or dark web refers to encrypted online networks that aren't indexed by search engines, and they are often used for illicit activities. You need special software (like Tor) to access it.

    9) Data Breach

    A data breach happens whenever secure or private information is released into an untrusted environment. This is often due to a cyberattack on a database, leading to sensitive data being exposed, copied, or used.

    10) Botnet

    A botnet uses a group of private computers that are unknowingly infected with malicious software and are controlled as a group to perform various tasks. Many times botnets are created to send out spam emails or carry out Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

    Closing Thoughts

    Understanding cybersecurity is not just for the tech-savvy; it's for everyone. We are all potential targets for cyber threats, and comprehension of basic cybersecurity terminology can make a significant difference in safeguarding ourselves and our digital assets.

    Employing cybersecurity measures also helps to keep your digital data safe. This might include using a VPN, enabling two-factor authentication, or simply being wary of suspicious emails to prevent phishing attacks.

    Ultimately, it's not necessary for everyone to be a cybersecurity expert, but a basic understanding of the key terms can be an empowering first step in better securing your digital life. This newfound knowledge can provide you the confidence to navigate the online world with more safety and assurance.