Japan's space agency JAXA victim of cyber attacks
Japan's space agency JAXA has been the victim of several cyberattacks. However, there was apparently no access to sensitive data.
(Image: Andrey Armyagov/Shutterstock.com)
Japan's space agency JAXA has been the victim of several cyberattacks since last year. Officials said on Friday that investigations were ongoing and preventive countermeasures were being taken. However, sensitive information relating to rockets or satellites had not been leaked.
According to the AP news agency, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed that JAXA had suffered a series of cyberattacks since last year. The space agency had investigated the extent of the illegal access while the affected networks were shut down. No classified information about missiles, satellites or national security was among them, he added.
Japan wants better defense capabilities
According to the AP, Hayashi promised to "strengthen Japan's ability to counter cyberattacks". Officials said JAXA was currently working with the government's cybersecurity team to introduce countermeasures.
AP adds that Japan has accelerated its military buildup in response to China's growing military power and is aiming to develop a counterstrike capability. Experts said Tokyo would continue to depend on the US to fire long-range missiles at targets.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters, according to AP, that the attacks on JAXA did not concern his ministry, but that he was keeping an eye on the agency's investigations. It is one of the key contractors of the Ministry of Defense.
At the beginning of the year, JAXA was the fifth nation ever to successfully land on the moon for Japan: the SLIM lunar lander touched down on the Earth's satellite on January 19 – at an angle, but operational. The lander also surprisingly survived the second long lunar night and was then in operation for several days.
(dmk)