Tokyo police hold emergency cyber-terror meeting with infrastructure operators
In short
The Metropolitan Police Department held an emergency meeting on 22 October with critical infrastructure operators over a rise in data leaks from unauthorised access. TBS reported 59 companies, including power, rail and aviation firms, took part. Nippon TV reported over 13,000 suspicious accesses this year and 623 consultations from people whose personal data leaked.
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The Metropolitan Police Department held an emergency meeting of its cyber-terror countermeasure council in Tokyo on 22 October, after repeated unauthorised access to companies led to leaks of personal information. Nishi-Nippon Shimbun said the aim was to share the latest attack methods and trends and to prevent damage serious enough to halt social activity. [ 2 , 4 ]
TBS reported that 59 critical infrastructure operators, including power, railway and aviation companies, took part. Nippon TV said the meeting was run by the department's Public Security Bureau and brought together operators such as rail and telecom firms in Tokyo. [ 1 , 2 ]
Kenji Takahashi, head of the department's Cyber Attack Countermeasure Center, was quoted by TBS as saying police wanted to strengthen cooperation further to prevent damage from cyber attacks and keep it from spreading. Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reported that he said the investigation into the unauthorised access cases was continuing and that he wanted to share the current assessment and strengthen security across organisations. [ 1 , 4 ]
Nippon TV reported that suspicious accesses recognised from Japan and abroad passed 13,000 so far this year, the highest on record. It also reported that police received 623 consultations from people whose personal information had leaked between August and this month. [ 2 ]
Nippon TV said police urged data encryption, thorough management, network separation where needed and offline backups. TBS reported that if a leak is suspected, police asked operators to cut the intrusion route, preserve evidence and consult police early. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
Police say they want to share the latest attack methods and prevent damage that could halt social activity. The outlets report that leaks of personal information are rising and that police are urging operators to take specific protective steps.
Key facts
- The Metropolitan Police Department held an emergency meeting of its cyber-terror countermeasure council in Tokyo on 22 October. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- TBS reported that 59 critical infrastructure operators, including power, railway and aviation companies, took part. [ 1 ]
- Nippon TV reported that recognised suspicious accesses from Japan and abroad exceeded 13,000 so far this year, the highest on record. [ 2 ]
- Nippon TV reported 623 consultations to police from people whose personal information leaked between August and this month. [ 2 ]
- Police urged data encryption, thorough management, network separation where needed and offline backups. [ 2 ]
- Police asked that, if a leak is suspected, operators cut the intrusion route, preserve evidence and consult police early. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Metropolitan Police Department held an emergency meeting with critical infrastructure operators on 22 October in response to repeated unauthorised access and data leaks. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Kenji Takahashi, head of the department's Cyber Attack Countermeasure Center, spoke at the meeting about strengthening cooperation and security measures. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Which companies were targeted and how the leaks occurred. The documents do not name affected companies or describe specific incidents; Nishi-Nippon Shimbun says only that police are working to establish the facts of the unauthorised access cases.
- The number of participating operators. Only TBS gives a figure (59); the other documents do not state one.