TOKYO – Japanese internet services provider GMO Internet Group Inc. said Saturday it has asked the government to take “active cyber defense” measures after confirming unauthorized access and transactions related to a service it provides for foreign exchange trading.
GMO said the request, if acted on, would mark the first use of the government’s powers to neutralize threats posed by servers used in cyberattacks since a law enabling “active cyber defense” measures took effect on Oct. 1.
The company said private businesses “face difficulties acting alone to stop the public’s assets being stolen by sophisticated cybercrime groups.”
The government is expected to carefully consider the request. An official told Kyodo News that the government does not disclose whether measures have been activated.
The request was made after GMO confirmed that customer information, including account passwords, was leaked externally and used in fraudulent transactions.
GMO said the attackers have demanded money and threatened to continue manipulating customer accounts and release customer information. The company said it will not comply with the demands.
The company said it will reimburse customers for losses from the unauthorized transactions, and intends to pay 5,000 yen ($32) to all customers of the affected service, regardless of whether they have suffered financial losses in the cyberattacks. It has not disclosed the extent of the losses caused.
AloJapan.com