Japan’s Digital Agency Hit by Unauthorized Access to Servers

Japan’s Digital Agency said it suffered unauthorized access to its servers and personal data on about 246,000 people may have leaked.

The agency detected access to a large volume of files on its Government Solution Service network using a maintenance account in late June, according to a statement on Friday. A subsequent investigation found that someone had exploited a vulnerability in a virtual private network and possibly stole information on public servants and others who use the system.

(Editor’s note: The Digital Agency is an agency of the Japanese government that focuses on strengthening digitalization across local and national governments, according to Wikipedia).

Data that may have leaked include names, email addresses and phone numbers, the agency said, adding it hasn’t confirmed any misuse linked to the incident.

The incident comes as cyberattacks continue to intensify in Japan. The country recorded 123 ransomware attacks in the first half of 2026, the highest number for any six-month period since the government began tracking the figure, according to the National Police Agency.

Photograph: Data cable terminals; photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg