The Japanese Ministry of Defence experienced a “very serious cyber attack” that may have originated from a foreign state agency according to official sources.
The attack took place in September but has only just come to light as ministry sources revealed the target of the hack was the Ministry’s Defence Information Infrastructure, an internal network linking the different Japanese Self-Defence Forces (SDF) bases.
The hacker was able penetrate the Ground Self-Defence Force’s computer system by gaining access to systems at the National Defence Academy and the National Defence Medical College and using them as a gateway.
Sources fear that some information may have been leaked although the full extent of the breach has yet to be determined.
The hack has shocked the ministry as security levels against such attacks were enhanced following the commission of a Cyber Defence Group in March 2014 to protect the ministry and SDF communication networks.
The highly skilled nature of the attack has resulted to the Defence Ministry raising its cyber security alert level. It is reported that the Ministry and the SDF has temporarily stopped staffers from using the internet.
A senior SDF official said: “It is a very serious situation. We must quickly take measures to prevent a recurrence.”
Officially, and in line with government policy, there has been no comment on the incident.
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Cyber Defence Group cyber security hack Japan
Post written by: Matt Brown
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