Qilin Threatens to Release Data Stolen in Keio Railway Cyberattack
International hacking group Qilin has claimed responsibility for a ransomware attack on subsidiaries of Keio Railway in late September, publishing images allegedly showing internal company documents and displaying a countdown believed to indicate a deadline for releasing stolen data, while the railway operator said it is investigating the claims. (News On Japan)
International hacking collective Qilin asserted culpability for a ransomware assault on subsidiaries of Japanese railway operator Keio Railway in late September. The cyberattack, which transpired in the early hours of September 26, involved several entities within the Keio Railway Group, resulting in the disruption of reservation services at certain hotels and the unavailability of specific email systems. The assault allegedly left data stolen from the affected companies vulnerable to exposure.
According to a cybersecurity firm, Qilin disseminated a statement on October 16 claiming responsibility for the attack. The declaration included 27 images purportedly showcasing internal company documents, along with a countdown that seemed to signal a deadline for the public release of the pilfered data. Keio Railway acknowledged the group's claim to have leaked information from its subsidiaries but stated that it had not yet determined the veracity of the material disseminated by the hackers.
The railway operator affirmed that it was actively investigating the incident and verifying the authenticity of the purportedly disclosed information. Concurrently, the storm Typhoon No. 30 was anticipated to intensify significantly as it moved west-northwest towards Okinawa. Forecast to make landfall near the Sakishima Islands by October 23, the storm posed the potential for violent winds, hazardous waves, and tumultuous seas to Japan's southwestern islands.
Separately, a Japanese woman named Atsumi Harasawa secured victory in the Yokohama mayoral election on October 18, defeating the incumbent, Takeharu Yamanaka. Yamanaka's resignation had been precipitated by allegations of workplace bullying, which had prompted the election. Furthermore, Japan was slated to launch its H3 rocket No. 10 from the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture at 4:41 a.m. on October 20.
The rocket was designed to retrieve samples from Phobos, one of Mars' moons, and return them to Earth, marking the world's first successful undertaking of such a mission.
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