Chinese Hacker Group Targets Japan: 210 Cyberattacks Expose Major Security Breaches

Japan’s National Police Agency revealed on Wednesday that a Chinese hacker group conducted 210 cyberattacks against Japanese government agencies and companies, including JAXA, over six years from 2019 to 2024.

Reports from Kyodo News and NHK indicate that the police agency and the National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity (NISC) have issued warnings about a hacker group known as Mirror Face, suspected of having ties to the Chinese government. The group has been targeting Japanese departments handling sensitive security information and private-sector firms through malicious email campaigns.

Intelligence suggests that Mirror Face is linked to APT10, a hacker group associated with China’s Ministry of State Security.

Mirror Face has carried out 210 cyberattacks over six years, targeting Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense, incumbent lawmakers and politicians, and private companies in the information, communication, and semiconductor sectors.

The hackers employed sophisticated tactics, using email subject lines containing keywords related to critical security and geopolitical issues such as the U.S.-Japan alliance, Taiwan Strait tensions, and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

It was revealed that when recipients open the email attachments, they become infected with malware (malicious software), allowing the attackers to extract the desired information.

JAXA, which reported a significant data breach in 2023, was among the organizations targeted in these attacks.

Following a thorough analysis of the malware used in these incidents, the National Police Agency found strong indications of Chinese involvement. The timing and selection of targets point to a coordinated effort likely backed by the Chinese government.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun, the primary objective of these cyberattacks appears to be the theft of advanced technological information related to national security, semiconductors, and aerospace industries.