Japan to simulate cyberattacks as PHP flaws roil global internet

TOKYO, Japan – Japan said on Friday, October 23, it will set up a team to simulate cyberattacks using AI to identify weaknesses in technology systems as organizations scramble to curtail risks from flaws in the PHP programming language that underpins much of the internet. Government and company websites across the world went offline this week after the disclosure of critical vulnerabilities in the widely used programming language prompted millions of hacking attempts, forcing website operators to rush to protect or temporarily shut down their systems. Must Read Millions of hacking attempts as companies, governments rush to patch PHP flaws Highlighting the extent of the disruption, Japanese mobile carrier SoftBank said on Friday it was suspending its emergency alert system for mobile users.

That means customers will not receive early warnings for earthquakes, tsunami alerts or disaster and evacuation information as the system undergoes maintenance to address a PHP vulnerability, SoftBank said. “An attack can succeed by getting through just one hole … for that reason it’s important we shift our mindset and think from the perspective of the attacker,” Japanese industry minister Ryosei Akazawa said on Friday. “Defenders also need to make use of AI and respond proactively, staying one step ahead. ” Emergency shutdowns this week from Tokyo to Helsinki of banking, airline, rail, tax and government services marked one of the most dramatic tests of the decades-old programming tools that keep the web running. Companies including brokerage Nomura, lender Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, airline ANA, and East Japan Railway (JR East) temporarily suspended some internet services as part of emergency measures. Japan’s Ministry of Finance, National Tax Agency and Meteorological Agency…