Japan has declared what a senior government official described as a “state of emergency in cyberspace” after a wave of cyberattacks hit more than 20 major companies and parts of the country’s public infrastructure.
The attacks have affected businesses including car rental operator Times Car and convenience store chain Lawson, while hospitals and government facilities have also reportedly been targeted.
Some security experts believe AI may have assisted or accelerated parts of the attacks, although the exact role of AI has not been established.
Personal Data Exposed
The breaches have potentially exposed tens of millions of pieces of personal and confidential information. Among the stolen data are images of drivers’ licences linked to the Times Car breach.
Reports indicate that some of these licence images have appeared on dark web marketplaces for as little as ¥25, or around $0.15.
Cybersecurity experts have warned for years that weaknesses in Japan’s digital defenses have left valuable personal information vulnerable to attack.
Government Calls Situation “Extremely Critical”
Masaaki Taira, head of Japan’s National Cybersecurity Strategy Headquarters, described the situation as a “state of emergency in cyberspace.”
Cybersecurity minister Toshiharu Furukawa also called the situation and Japan’s response “extremely critical.”
The government is now introducing measures aimed at reducing the risk of stolen identity documents being used for financial fraud.
Banks Told Not to Rely on Driver’s Licences Alone
Financial institutions have been instructed not to accept a driver’s licence as the only form of identification when opening new bank accounts.
Customers will instead need identification containing an electronic chip, such as a passport or Japan’s My Number card.
The change comes after licence information exposed in recent breaches became available to cybercriminals.
The attacks have increased pressure on Japanese companies and government agencies to strengthen cybersecurity systems as threats become more advanced and large-scale data breaches continue to grow.
The post Japan Declares State of Emergency Amid Surge of AI Cyber Attacks appeared first on ProPakistani.