A large-scale cyber attack has been launched on dominant Japanese weapons firm MHI (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries).
The attackers apparently sought to obtain data relating to MHI's nuclear power plants, submarines and missiles. According to the firm, 45 of its servers and 38 of its PCs were found to be hosting viruses when examined in August.
No evidence has been supplied that suggests the MHI hackers managed to extract any sensitive data but, even so, at the request of the Japanese Defence Ministry, the issue will be investigated in full.
Details of the Mitsubishi cyber attack emerged during a press event featuring Yasuo Ichikawa - the Japanese Defence Minister - held on 20 September 2011. Here, Ichikawa stressed that MHI would be told to carry out "a review of their information control systems", adding: "The ministry will continue to monitor the problem and conduct investigations if necessary."
Already, MHI knows that the attack isn't attributable to anyone using its own, in house network. Further to that, one element of the Japanese media, the Yomiuri daily, has suggested that the machine used to coordinate the attack featured a Chinese language display - allegations that China has since strongly denied.
"The Chinese government has consistently opposed hacking activities", Chinese foreign ministry representative Hong Lei commented today.
"China is one of the main victims of hacking...criticising China as being the source of the hacking attacks is not only baseless, it is also not beneficial for promoting international co-operation for internet security."
A pre-existing agreement established between Mitsubishi and the government in Japan makes the firm obliged to immediately disclose security breaches but, in this instance, officials appear to have got word of the Japanese cyber attack via the press - a situation that's said to have made them angry.
"It's up to the defence ministry to decide whether or not the information is important", an unnamed official stated in comments quoted by news agency Reuters, after Mitsubishi had been targeted, adding: "That is not for Mitsubishi Heavy to decide. A report should have been made."
2011 has seen a number of high profile cyber attacks launched against some of the world's most prominent defence firms. These include May's Lockheed Martin cyber attack where, again, no critical information is thought to have been obtained.
Image copyright Yusuke D - Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
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