Japan to start cyberattack test using decoy networks

August 30, 2017

TOKYO- Japan's communications ministry plans to start a demonstration test to employ decoys to grasp cyberattack patterns in the early stages and use the information to prevent damage, Jiji Press learned Tuesday.

The test, which is aimed to quickly respond to the diverse methods of cyberattacks, is planned to start in fiscal 2018, which begins next April, according to informed sources.

According to the sources, the ministry will include 200 million yen as costs for building the new system in its budgetary request for fiscal 2018.

Under the plan, the ministry will create several networks, which will be used as decoys to lure cyberattacks. The ministry hopes to detect various types of cyberattacks on the decoy networks, such as infection with a new type of virus.

If the networks encounter an unknown attack, the ministry will promptly analyze its characteristics and actions and share the information with private security software makers to prevent the damage from spreading.

Ransomware attacks, in which files on computers and other terminals are encrypted and money demanded for their decryption, wreaked havoc throughout the world this year.

To limit such damage, the Japanese government sees it as essential to grasp attack patterns and tactics, which are becoming increasingly complex by the year, at an early stage and take countermeasures. Jiji Press