Ransomware attacks on Japanese companies reached 239 cases between January and October this year, 2.5 times the full-year total for 2021, according to a survey by cybersecurity firm Macnica of Yokohama released on Wednesday.
A separate survey found that close to 40% of victimized Japanese companies paid the ransom. Experts warn that paying does not end the attack. "There is no guarantee the attacks will stop, so it is important not to pay," one said.
The figures underline how much more intense cyberattacks on companies have become. In the unauthorized access to the GMO Internet Group, the attackers announced in advance that they would deploy ransomware.
That case featured a "theater-style" approach — exposing personal information to stir public anxiety while demanding payment — and security experts are continuing to analyze it.