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The National Information Security Center (NISC) held the awareness event "Witness a Cyber Attack! 2017" at Bellesalle Akihabara in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, on March 4 and 5, as part of its efforts for Cybersecurity Month (February 1 to March 18).
In recent years, cyberattacks have been shifting from mechanical and systematic approaches to more human-centric, diverse methods targeting specific individuals or organizations, becoming increasingly sophisticated. Within this trend, the number of targeted email attacks in the first half of 2016 increased by approximately 132% compared to the same period the previous year. The number of access attempts, such as reconnaissance targeting sensors connected to the internet, also increased by approximately 163% to 1,119 attempts per IP address. Urgent countermeasures are required.
This event was conducted by NISC in collaboration with the Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA), the "Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale" Production Committee, private companies, and others. Kirito, the protagonist of the movie, was appointed by NISC as this year's "Cybersecurity Investigator" for Cybersecurity Month, based on his accurate handling of requests from bureaucrats within the work.
At the press event on the first day, Kirito's voice actor, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, appeared as a special guest and introduced highlights of the film. Regarding his appointment as "Investigator," he stated, "I never imagined collaborating with the government, so I was surprised. I also handle a lot of email correspondence. In case of an emergency, it could cause trouble for many people, so I'm careful about security, using complex passwords and such."
Cybersecurity Minister Tamayo Marukawa stated, "As the IoT era evolves and cybersecurity becomes increasingly vital, it's estimated that 10 to 20 million people will gather in Tokyo for the Olympics. If cyberattacks were to cause power outages or halt trains during that time, it could severely impact not only the competitions but also spectator transportation and the economy. While the government is advancing countermeasures, cybersecurity isn't something the nation can tackle alone. I ask everyone to recognize that cyberattacks pose a threat close to home and to cooperate in building a safe online society together." He then led attendees in chanting the campaign slogan, "Cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility."
At the venue, presentations by experts and demonstrations of virus-induced smartphone and PC takeovers drew significant attention from the general public. The awareness booths featured exhibits by organizations like NISC and IPA, university technology displays, and related exhibits and hands-on booths by private companies, all bustling with visitors.
Cybersecurity Month website: http://www.nisc.go.jp/security-site/month/
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