Japan’s Denso hit by apparent ransomware attack

(Reuters) — An alleged cybercrime group released a statement  Sunday saying it had stolen classified information from Toyota Motor Corp’s main supplier Denso and will release it on the dark web, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported.

The group called Pandora said it had more than 157,000 purchase orders, emails and sketches, or 1.4 terabytes worth of data, NHK said, quoting information security company Mitsui Bussan Secure Directions Inc.

A Denso spokesperson told Reuters it had detected unauthorized access using ransomware at Denso Automotive Deutschland GmbH, a group company that handles sales and engineering in Germany.

The Denso spokesperson declined to confirm the NHK report but said production and business activities have not been affected at this point.

Pandora has allegedly carried out cyberattacks using ransomware that encrypts company data and demands ransom in exchange for not divulging the data, NHK reported.

One of Toyota's suppliers was hit by a cyberattack late last month that shut down Japan's largest automaker's domestic production for one day on March 1, affecting the output of around 13,000 vehicles.