Japanese firms issue compensation following wave of cyberattacks
Major Japanese corporations, including GMO Internet Group, have begun paying compensation to users following a series of disruptive cyberattacks that exposed significant data security vulnerabilities.
Several Japanese companies have initiated financial compensation for users following a series of severe cyberattacks that disrupted internet services and raised concerns regarding national economic stability. GMO Internet Group announced a 5,000-yen payment to customers affected by a recent intrusion. Similarly, parking operator Park24 confirmed it would provide 3,000-yen compensation following a data leak that the firm expects will result in 5.5 billion yen in extraordinary losses.
The attacks, largely attributed to critical vulnerabilities in the PHP programming language, have targeted millions of government and private digital platforms. Security analysts note that the integration of artificial intelligence has enabled hackers to automate vulnerability scanning and phishing, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for cybercrime. TrendAI data indicates that 723 security incidents have been recorded in Japan so far this year, exceeding the combined totals for 2024 and 2025.
In response to the growing threat, the Japanese government is forming a specialized task force to conduct AI-driven simulations to identify system vulnerabilities. GMO Internet Group stated it has refused to meet extortion demands from attackers and is cooperating with law enforcement. The company has also deployed new defense systems, including active countermeasures, to protect its infrastructure.
Financial analysts warn that companies with large digital footprints must accelerate security spending to mitigate rising risks. According to Moody’s, entities failing to implement robust patching mechanisms are becoming increasingly vulnerable, particularly as the frequency and sophistication of these attacks continue to escalate.