Japan’s Cybersecurity Crisis, Airports Face Ransomware, Pennsylvania Revenue Alert
It’s the last week of September, and the world is already grappling with multiple cyberattack incidents. We are here to guide you through these challenging times, enabling you to navigate threat incidents conveniently without compromising your peace of mind or sensitive data.
This week, our focus will be on Japan’s cybersecurity crisis. Next, we will talk about the Pennsylvania Revenue Department scam.
If this sounds interesting, stay with us. We are going to share the complete details here.
Here you go!
Japan’s cybersecurity is inadequate to tackle increasing cyberattacks!
There has been a steep surge in the instances of cybercrimes in Japan, thanks to nation-state actors and other cybercriminal groups. The most concerning part is that Japan’s cybersecurity is finding it hard to keep pace with the upsurge of threat attacks.
As per Japan’s Board of Audit, a massive 58 systems of critical importance are lacking effective cybersecurity mechanisms. Because of these weak setups, Japan experienced a staggering 447 cybersecurity incidents in 2024.
The government sector is grappling with physical cyberattacks on crucial infrastructures. Meanwhile, the commercial sector is being attacked left, right, and center by info-stealers and ransomware gangs.
Japan is currently aiming to scale its cybersecurity roles across borders. In 2024, Japan joined hands with the Philippines and the US to cross-share threat data. The collaboration can be seen as a stern answer to China’s Volt Typhoon attacks. Just a few months back, a law (Active Cyber Defense Bill) was passed to boost the response rates of law enforcement agencies.
Japan is trying its best to overshadow the sophisticated attacks of threat actors. Experts believe that cybersecurity organizations are required to improve visibility around the complete attack process. The agencies must also try their best to prevent such threat attempts by leveraging advanced AI capabilities.
Cybersecurity roles increasingly rely on email authentication protocols like DMARC, DKIM, and SPF to prevent phishing, safeguard domain reputation, and strengthen organizational defenses against cyber threats.
Major European airports targeted by ransomware gang!
European airports are going through a severe crisis— major airports have been targeted by ransomware gangs. As a result, there have been severe disruptions in daily operations, leading to complete chaos. The hackers have managed to enter the automated check-in systems.
The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) has confirmed the ransomware gang’s involvement in the airport cyberattack in Germany, Belgium, and the UK.
Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies are investigating the specific software that the ransomware gang is using to hold the data until the victims pay the ransom to get access to their data back.
Some of the biggest airports in Europe have been facing severe operational issues since Friday night. Multiple flights have been affected, and thousands of passengers are left stranded with their flights cancelled.
Collins Aerospace, the developer of the affected check-in systems, has been working in close coordination with the targeted European airports.
While Heathrow and Brussels’ operations have been almost restored, the Berlin Brandenburg Airport has not had its check-in systems restored. So, the passengers are using their laptops and iPads for check-in purposes.
Pennsylvania Revenue Department does not need your money: Here’s what you must know!
If that text message you just got says that the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue wants you to part with your money, be aware– they don’t! It’s a harmful phishing campaign doing the rounds, whereby hackers are trying to make some easy money.
The Pennsylvania Revenue Department has issued a public notice to warn people about a phishing attack. As per the experts, the cybercriminals are targeting tax filers in this specific phishing campaign.
The scammers can send text messages by impersonating Pennsylvania Department of Revenue officials. They ask strategic questions to their targets and try to obtain sensitive and personal data from them. Philadelphia has also witnessed similar cyber incidents. The residents there have been victimised with malicious texts. Philadelphia is not alone in this. Other cities like Michigan, Ohio, California, Missouri and Minnesota are also facing similar risks.
The Pennsylvania Revenue Department has warned people that these scam text messages shared by threat actors often contain links to malicious websites. They may also request bank details in the pretext of refund processing.
It is important to understand that the revenue department will never send such unsolicited text messages to any resident, nor will it ask for your banking information.
In case you have received any fraudulent message, feel free to reach out to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue at the given number (717-425-2495). Or, you can simply delete the text message. Avoid forwarding the message to your friends and acquaintances. You should also avoid clicking on malicious links at all costs.
In such situations, having a full-fledged knowledge of cybersecurity can be of great help. It can protect you from severe cyber mishaps, such as financial fraud and data leaks.
