Hackers breached the president's account of a Japanese aerospace company -

Hackers breached the president’s account of a Japanese aerospace company

Hackers infiltrated JAXA, compromising top officials’ accounts, including President Hiroshi Yamakawa, in a series of cyberattacks since June 2023.

Since mid-2023, JAXA has been hit by four significant cyberattacks. In the first attack, personal data of approximately 5,000 employees was stolen, affecting nearly everyone within the agency’s network.

These ongoing breaches have raised serious concerns about the security of JAXA’s sensitive information, especially given its role in space exploration and national security. The repeated targeting of JAXA suggests a sustained effort to infiltrate and compromise critical data.

An internal investigation found that hackers compromised around 200 accounts, including five directors, aiming to access confidential policy and budget information.

The investigation revealed that Microsoft 365 was compromised during the June 2023 cyberattack. Over 10,000 files, including more than 1,000 under non-disclosure agreements from external parties like NASA, the European Space Agency, Toyota, and Japan’s Defense Agency, may have been leaked. Most of the leaked documents came from JAXA’s Strategic Planning, Space Exploration Center, and Human Spaceflight Technology departments.

Impact on International Collaborations

Despite the breaches, JAXA reported no significant disruptions to operations or collaborations with domestic and international partners. However, the agency recognizes the potential damage to trust and is dedicated to improving its cybersecurity measures.

The leaked files contained important information on international projects like NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration program and Toyota’s manned lunar rover development.

As investigations continue, JAXA is focused on protecting its systems to prevent future incidents and maintain collaboration in space exploration.

These cyberattacks highlight the growing threat to global aerospace agencies and emphasize the need for strong cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive information in a connected world.