Sanpo-yoshi Communication
Sanpo-yoshi Communication
President's Column] Cyber Security Measures
The publishing company KADOKAWA and one of the major retail distributors were also victims of cyberattacks and *ransomware*, which not only led to the leakage of personal information but also caused significant disruptions to their operations. In addition, public institutions such as government offices have also been targeted, posing a major threat to society.
*Ransomware is a type of malicious software that, once it infects a computer or other device, encrypts the data stored on it, rendering it unusable, and then demands a ransom—in the form of money or cryptocurrency—in exchange for decrypting the data and restoring it to its original state.
Furthermore, a shocking article was published in the Nikkei the other day.
In an article dated August 6, Reiwa 6, titled “The Growing Threat of Commercialized Cyberattacks: The Covert Activities of ‘Cyberattack Brokerage’ Services,” it was revealed that an arrested suspect had commissioned a cyberattack through an overseas brokerage site known as a “Booter” for just $10.
In other words, this means that anyone—even without specialized knowledge—can launch an attack against a specific company for a minimal fee. In the past, there have been cases where people commissioned attacks against competitors in the online business sector to drive away their customers, as well as personal attacks—such as targeting the servers used by rivals in online games to slow down connection speeds. This means that if you make even a few enemies, you could fall victim to this kind of attack.
Our company also handles a large amount of personal information. While we believe we’ve taken every possible precaution, seeing even major corporations—which presumably have implemented even stricter security measures than we have—falling victim one after another has been truly alarming. We’ve had cyber insurance for several years now, but of course, it’s always better to avoid being a victim in the first place. We are currently in discussions with our system vendor to build an even higher level of security. If anyone is thinking, “This doesn’t apply to us,” please note that the Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA), an independent administrative agency affiliated with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), has published guidelines on information security measures for small and medium-sized enterprises.
We recommend that you start by reading just this “For Business Owners” section.
Yoji Hiraki
▼For your reference
Guidelines for Information Security Measures for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises