Japan links Chinese hacker MirrorFace to dozens of cyber attacks targeting security and tech data

Tokyo, Jan 8 (AP) Japan on Wednesday linked more than 200 cyber attacks over the past five years targeting the country's national security and high technology data to a Chinese hacking group, MirrorFace, detailing their tactics and calling on government agencies and businesses to reinforce preventive measures.
     The National Police Agency said its analysis on the targets, methods and infrastructure of the cyber attacks by MirrorFace from 2019 to 2024 concluded they were systematic attacks linked to China with an aim of stealing data on Japanese national security and advanced technology.
     The targets of the Chinese government-led cyber attacks included Japan's Foreign and Defence ministries, the country's space agency and individuals, including politicians, journalists, private companies and think tanks related to advanced technology, the NPA said.
     Experts have repeatedly raised concerns about the vulnerability of Japan's cyber security, especially as the country steps up its defence capabilities and works more closely with the United States and other partners to strengthen cyber defences. Japan has taken steps but experts say more work is needed.
     MirrorFace sent emails with attachments containing malware to targeted organisations and individuals to view data saved on computers mainly from December 2019 to July 2023, often from Gmail and Microsoft Outlook addresses using stolen identities, the NPA investigation found.
     The emails typically used as subjects key words such as “Japan-US alliance,” “Taiwan Strait,” “Russia-Ukraine war” and “free and open Indo-Pacific," and included an invitation for a study panel, references and a list of panelists, the NPA said.
     In another tactic, the hackers targeted Japanese organisations in areas of aerospace, semiconductors, information and communications from February to October 2023 by exploiting vulnerabilities in virtual private networks to gain unauthorised access to information.
     The attacks included one on the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency, or JAXA, which acknowledged in June it had suffered a series of cyber attacks since 2023, though sensitive information related to rockets, satellites and defence was not affected. It was investigating to take preventive measures.
     Last year, a cyber attack paralysed operations at a container terminal at a port in the city of Nagoya for three days.
     More recently, Japan Airlines was hit by a cyber attack on Christmas, causing delays and cancellations to more than 20 domestic flights, though the carrier was able to stop the onslaught and restore its systems hours later and there was no impact on flight safety. (AP) NPK
NPK

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)