Mitsubishi Electric data likely compromised in massive cyberattack blamed on Chinese group

Mitsubishi Electric Corp. said Monday it has been targeted in a massive cyberattack, and that information regarding government agencies and other business partners may have been compromised, with a Chinese group believed behind the attack.

A key player in Japan’s defense and infrastructure industries, the electronics giant said that among the potentially leaked information are email exchanges with the Defense Ministry and the Nuclear Regulation Authority as well as documents related to projects with private firms, including utilities, railway operators, communications and automakers.

It said, however, that no highly sensitive information pertaining to defense, electricity or other infrastructure operations had been breached.

In June last year, the company spotted irregular activity on devices located in Japan, and conducted an internal investigation, which found unauthorized access to the management section at its head office and elsewhere.

A Chinese cybercrime group is suspected of carrying out the unauthorized access to personal computers and servers, it said.

Read more via The Japan Times