China

Gbhackers •Divya • June 26, 2026

Japan’s defense infrastructure has faced scrutiny following an investigation that revealed members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) used counterfeit USB drives embedded with malware linked to China on systems handling classified information. According to findings reported by Nikkei, these compromised USB devices were acquired at significantly lower costs through unofficial channels. They were subsequently […]

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Malware-Infected USB Drives Compromise Japan's Self-Defense Forces Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force unknowingly used counterfeit USB drives embedded with malware linked to Chinese hackers for nearly a year. The incident came to light after personnel noticed abnormal computer performance in February 2025. Investigations revealed that six out of eight tested USB drives contained the same malicious software. These drives were connected to over 50 computers, many of which accessed sensitive command information. The counterfeit drives were procured during disaster relief operations in March 2024 and were found to have significantly lower storage capacity than advertised. The malware was not detected due to antivirus software not scanning USB drives at the time. The incident raises serious concerns about cybersecurity protocols within Japan's defense infrastructure. 5 sources 74

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