Story perspectives

GMO Internet Asks Japan to Activate Cyber Defense After Breach

By Drooid · Oct 25, 2026, 6:11 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

GMO Internet Inc. asked the Japanese government to activate active cyber defense, the first use since Oct. 1.
Unauthorized access to its Onamae.com Desktop Cloud potentially affected up to 26,739 servers and exposed user login data.
Some customers reported unauthorized foreign-exchange trades after the breach.
GMO Internet will pay ¥5,000 to all users and reimburse verified loss amounts.
The company rejected a ransom demand and asked police to investigate the breach.

History

Historical Context

The December 2013 Target data breach, which exposed personal information of roughly 110 million customers, shocked the retail sector worldwide. Target Corp. faced a $162 million settlement with the US Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, prompting heightened corporate security spending. Similarly, GMO Internet Inc.’s Oct. 1 cyber-attack on its Onamae.com Desktop Cloud has compelled the Japanese government to activate active cyber defense measures. The incident underscores Japan’s ongoing effort to translate past breach lessons into robust national cyber-policy, likely expanding the budget allocated under the 2014 Cybersecurity Basic Act.

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Story summary

GMO Internet Inc. asked the Japanese government to activate active cyber defense, the first use since Oct. 1.
Unauthorized access to its Onamae.com Desktop Cloud potentially affected up to 26,739 servers and exposed user login data.
Some customers reported unauthorized foreign-exchange trades after the breach.
GMO Internet will pay ¥5,000 to all users and reimburse verified loss amounts.
The company rejected a ransom demand and asked police to investigate the breach.

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