GMO Internet Offers 150 Million Yen Bounty After Cyberattack

GMO Internet Group is offering a reward of approximately 150 million yen for information leading to the identification and arrest of hackers who launched a cyberattack on its systems. The breach potentially affected over 26,000 servers via the company's Onamae.com domain registration service. The attackers demanded a $1 million ransom, threatening to release one user's private information daily if the payment was not made.

On Tuesday, the hackers published the personal details of one client, including a photograph and financial habits, though the company later stated this information contained inaccuracies. GMO Internet refused to pay the ransom and confirmed the shutdown of the hackers' leak website by Wednesday morning. To support affected customers, the company is providing special compensation: 10,000 yen for the disclosure of names and contact details, and 15,000 yen for the exposure of account IDs and passwords.

The company has requested active cyberdefense measures from the Japanese government, while the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is implementing protective measures for affected clients. GMO Internet warned that new leak sites could emerge and stated it will respond firmly to those disseminating the stolen data. This incident follows a surge in cybersecurity breaches across Japan, with 723 incidents recorded by October 20, 2026, surpassing the annual totals of the previous two years.