Japan’s largest taxi operator suffers cyberattack, disrupting services

As reported by Bleeping Computer, Japan's largest taxi operator, Nihon Kotsu, announced that its systems were compromised in a cyberattack, forcing the company to shut down part of its infrastructure. The incident, which occurred early Saturday morning, impacted critical operations, including the company's taxi dispatch system, which remains offline.

Nihon Kotsu, a major player in Japan's transportation sector with annual revenues of approximately $1 billion, confirmed that its internal systems experienced unauthorized external access, identified as a malware infection. In response, the company implemented emergency measures, including disconnecting systems to prevent further damage. This has led to the unavailability of services such as car hire, web booking, reservation management, telephone dispatch, and some internal operations. The company has advised customers to use the "GO" taxi app or visit a taxi stand for bookings. A specialized service for pregnant women nearing labor is also suspended in several areas.

Nihon Kotsu has engaged external cybersecurity experts to assist with the investigation and recovery efforts and is assessing the possibility of data leaks, though none have been confirmed at this time. Customers are cautioned against opening suspicious communications claiming to be from the company.

Source: Bleeping Computer