Overview
- Trend Micro reported 659 security incidents in Japan from January to October 9, 2026, surpassing last year’s 594 and signaling a rising volume of breaches.
- Trend Micro’s CEO warned in mid-October that attackers are using AI to speed, scale and diversify intrusions and cited suspected involvement by groups known as Qilin and The Gentlemen.
- Security specialists say attackers are increasingly exfiltrating customer personal data, which is then sold on dark markets and reused for phishing and follow-on intrusions that drive fraud.
- Ransomware remains the most common attack type and small-to-medium enterprises — including many Tohoku supply-chain firms — account for more than 60% of nationwide damage.
- Private firms are responding with emergency support: Trend Micro has offered up to ¥10 billion in free product usage rights, and experts urge immediate hardening of defenses to prevent cascading fraud.