Casio, the renowned Japanese electronics giant, recently disclosed that some of its corporate systems and services fell victim to a ransomware attack, resulting in compromised personal information. This cyber breach was first identified after a system failure on October 5 that rendered several systems inoperable.

Upon investigation, it was revealed that unauthorized access had occurred on their servers. In response to this security breach, Casio promptly engaged an external security specialist to conduct a forensic analysis. The affected servers were immediately shut down to prevent further unauthorized access both from the internet and their internal network, as they suspected a ransomware attack.

As a consequence, key systems within the company and its affiliates were rendered unusable, impacting several services. While the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, Casio has mobilized a task force to diligently work on restoring internal systems and resuming normal operations as swiftly as possible.

For more insights on ransomware attacks: FBI: US Ransomware Losses Surge 74% to $59.6 Million in 2023

Screenshots shared on X (formerly Twitter) indicate that the Underground ransomware group has taken responsibility for the breach. They claim to possess 205GB of pilfered data from Casio.

🚨Cyberattack Alert ‼️

🇯🇵Japan – Casio (カシオ計算機)

Underground ransomware group claims responsibility for the attack on Casio.

Allegedly, 204.9 GB of data were exfiltrated, including confidential documents (社外秘), legal documents, personal information of employees,… https://t.co/gprgvyBhhP pic.twitter.com/ZrZeIzwqGg

The compromised information by the ransomware actors includes:

• Personal data of temporary and contract employees of Casio, as well as individuals from affiliated companies and partners
• Personal information of job applicants who underwent interviews with Casio
• Non-credit card details of certain customers utilizing services from Casio and its affiliates
• Data pertaining to contracts, invoices, and sales with current and past business associates and Casio affiliates
• Internal documents encompassing legal, financial, HR planning, audit, sales, and technical details related to Casio and its partners

Warning users of potential misuse of their personal information through phishing or spam emails, Casio advises recipients to be cautious and delete any suspicious emails without opening them.

Image credit: Robert Way / Shutterstock.com