Japan data leaks: Which poses greatest risk, licenses, credit cards or My Number cards?

Japan has experienced a surge in data leaks due to unauthorized access by companies and organizations. This compromised data includes driver's license details, credit card information, names, addresses, phone numbers, and even My Number card data. The first type of information posing the greatest risk is an image of a driver's license, as it is widely used as an identification document.

Once leaked, such an image could enable fraudsters to impersonate the license holder, leading to potential credit card fraud, loans, or mobile phone contract fraud. Minami, a cybersecurity expert, advises promptly notifying credit reporting agencies like Credit Information Center Corp. to prevent unauthorized credit usage.

Although the risk appears lower for My Number card images, they represent a form of identification requiring several verification steps. Even if leaked, it would be difficult to misuse them without following these procedures. For credit card information, recent two-factor authentication methods through text messages significantly reduce misuse risks.

However, Minami suggests avoiding storing credit card details on online shopping sites due to convenience-security trade-offs. Most leaked personal data contains basic details like names, dates of birth, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses, which alone are insufficient for fraud. Still, leaked phone numbers and emails could result in increased phishing attempts.

Japan's Act on the Protection of Personal Information encourages businesses to promptly delete unnecessary data, but this duty remains voluntary. Minami urges individuals to weigh convenience versus security, opting for either convenience and accepting some risk or prioritizing security even with minor inconveniences.