Record number of cyberattacks

TOKYO: A record 128.1 billion cyberattacks against networks in Japan were detected in 2016, more than double the previous year, according to a recent survey by a public research institute.

Many of the attacks appear to have been launched from China and the United States, the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology said.

More than 50% of cyberattacks detected last year targeted surveillance cameras connected to the internet, home wireless routers and other devices categorised as within the Internet of Things, an increase from around 26% in 2015.

Many of those devices are vulnerable to attacks because of deficient security measures in their software, it said.

The institute operates a large-scale cyberattack monitoring system. But given its limited monitoring coverage, the institute said it assumes a far greater number of devices were attacked.

The institute, which operates a largescale cyberattack monitoring system, said many of those devices are vulnerable to attacks due to deficient security measures in their software.

Given its limited monitoring coverage, the institute said it assumes a far greater number of devices were attacked.

The institute launched the survey in 2005 when the number of detected cyberattacks stood at around 310 million. The figure has surged to around 25.66 billion in 2014 and 54.51 billion in 2015.

“I hope general users of those (vulnerable) devices would understand the importance of taking measures (against cyberattacks)”, said Takahiro Kasama, a senior researcher at the institute.

With more household appliances, cars and factory infrastructure now reliant on Internet connections, and the trend only increasing, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry is considering taking measures against cyberattacks aimed at IoT devices.