Japan declares cyber emergency after hackers expose data of millions of citizens

Japan has issued a nationwide cybersecurity warning as a growing wave of cyberattacks targets businesses and exposes millions of customers’ personal data. Major companies, including convenience store chain Lawson, Daiwa Securities and second-hand retailer BookOff, have reported data leaks. A recent attack on car-sharing service Times Car also exposed information linked to around 6.6 million customer accounts.The Japanese government is now urging businesses and individuals to take cybersecurity more seriously as attacks become more frequent and sophisticated. “Cyberattacks are increasing in both quality and quantity, the methods are becoming more sophisticated, and they are having a tremendous impact on people's lives, and of course, causing significant disruption to business activities,” said Toshihiro Furukawa, Digital Transformation Minister.The government has called on companies and individuals to strengthen basic security measures as it works with relevant agencies to respond to the attacks. Japan’s National Cybersecurity Office has also issued instructions to government ministries for distribution to local authorities and private companies, according to Reuters.Japan records sharp rise in cyberattacksA study released by newspaper Yomiuri and Tokyo-based cybersecurity firm Trend Micro found that Japan has already recorded more than 500 cyberattacks this year. The country reported 473 incidents last year and 503 in 2024, putting it on course to set a new record. Separate data cited by Reuters showed Japan recorded more cybersecurity incidents in the first nine months of this year than in all of last year. The number of incidents reached 86 in September, up around 18 per cent from August and 37 per cent from July.The breaches have exposed sensitive information, including driving licence details, contact information and other personal data. The Japanese government has warned that such leaks can lead to identity theft, fraudulent money transfers and other scams. “Once such information is leaked, it can lead to secondary damage such as identity theft, fraudulent money transfers, and other scams,” Furukawa said.The government has urged people to stop reusing passwords, enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible and be cautious of suspicious emails and text messages that pretend to come from legitimate companies or government agencies.According to reports, AI could be one of the reasons behind the rise in cyberattacks. It is making it easier for hackers to find software weaknesses and create phishing messages.South Korea is also facing a cyber threatJapan is not alone. In South Korea, nine banks and two mega-churches are investigating attacks that may have involved AI tools. Government data reveals that the country recorded 1,236 cyber incidents in the first half of this year, up 20 per cent from a year earlier.Experts warn that AI-assisted attacks could become harder to detect as criminals use the technology to automate more of their work.- Ends