---
title: Japan's Military Unknowingly Used Chinese Malware-Infected USB Drives for Nearly a Year
description: JGSDF unknowingly used malware-infected USB drives on classified networks for a year, and never disclosed it. Malware linked to China-backed hackers.
canonical_url: https://codekeeper.co/ticker/jgsdf-malware-infected-usb-drives-expose-classified-data
---

# Japan's Military Unknowingly Used Chinese Malware-Infected USB Drives for Nearly a Year

JGSDF unknowingly used malware-infected USB drives on classified networks for a year, and never disclosed it. Malware linked to China-backed hackers.

![Content Team](https://codekeeper.co/hubfs/_sized/Codekeeper_21_beeldmerkL-800.png)

By Content Team Jun 26, 2026

Share [![Share on facebook](https://codekeeper.co/hubfs/Codekeeper%202025/Icons/Blog%20-%20Facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcodekeeper.co%2Fticker%2Fjgsdf-malware-infected-usb-drives-expose-classified-data%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on linkedin](https://codekeeper.co/hubfs/Codekeeper%202025/Icons/Blog%20-%20Linkedin.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcodekeeper.co%2Fticker%2Fjgsdf-malware-infected-usb-drives-expose-classified-data%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on twitter](https://codekeeper.co/hubfs/Codekeeper%202025/Icons/Blog%20-%20X.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fcodekeeper.co%2Fticker%2Fjgsdf-malware-infected-usb-drives-expose-classified-data%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcodekeeper.co%2Fticker%2Fjgsdf-malware-infected-usb-drives-expose-classified-data%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on email](https://codekeeper.co/hubfs/Codekeeper%202025/Icons/Blog%20-%20Mail.svg)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fcodekeeper.co%2Fticker%2Fjgsdf-malware-infected-usb-drives-expose-classified-data%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fcodekeeper.co%2Fticker%2Fjgsdf-malware-infected-usb-drives-expose-classified-data%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ![Copy link](https://codekeeper.co/hubfs/Codekeeper%202025/Icons/Blog%20-%20Copy.svg)

ON THIS PAGE

### Want more insights like this?

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest software protection strategies delivered to your inbox.

By submitting your email, you consent to Codekeeper contacting you and agree to our [privacy policy](https://codekeeper.co/privacy-policy) .

Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) unknowingly used malware-infected USB drives on classified military networks for almost a year, according to Nikkei's investigation of leaked internal documents. The counterfeit drives, manufactured in China, were distributed during earthquake relief operations in March 2024. The malware ran the instant a drive was plugged in, then sat quietly in the background. By the time a soldier in Itami noticed his computer slowing down in February 2025, over 50 machines had connected to the infected drives — nearly half of them handling classified troop movement data. The malware matches a strain linked to a China-backed hacking group. The JGSDF never disclosed the breach publicly, even as identical drives spread to Japanese factories and research institutions. **Source:** [Cybersecurity News](https://cybersecuritynews.com/nikkei-warns-of-japans-ground-self-defense-force-used-usb-drives/)

Share this article [![Share on facebook](https://codekeeper.co/hubfs/Codekeeper%202025/Icons/Blog%20-%20Facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcodekeeper.co%2Fticker%2Fjgsdf-malware-infected-usb-drives-expose-classified-data%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on linkedin](https://codekeeper.co/hubfs/Codekeeper%202025/Icons/Blog%20-%20Linkedin.svg)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcodekeeper.co%2Fticker%2Fjgsdf-malware-infected-usb-drives-expose-classified-data%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on twitter](https://codekeeper.co/hubfs/Codekeeper%202025/Icons/Blog%20-%20X.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fcodekeeper.co%2Fticker%2Fjgsdf-malware-infected-usb-drives-expose-classified-data%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcodekeeper.co%2Fticker%2Fjgsdf-malware-infected-usb-drives-expose-classified-data%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on email](https://codekeeper.co/hubfs/Codekeeper%202025/Icons/Blog%20-%20Mail.svg)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fcodekeeper.co%2Fticker%2Fjgsdf-malware-infected-usb-drives-expose-classified-data%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fcodekeeper.co%2Fticker%2Fjgsdf-malware-infected-usb-drives-expose-classified-data%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ![Copy link](https://codekeeper.co/hubfs/Codekeeper%202025/Icons/Blog%20-%20Copy.svg)

![blog_book_a_demo_cta_3x](https://codekeeper.co/hubfs/_sized/Codekeeper%202025/blog_book_a_demo_cta_3x-768x512.webp)

Have questions about protecting your software?

Our escrow experts are standing by to help.

[Book a free demo](https://codekeeper.co/book-a-demo)

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

[Data breaches Named Clients Deny They're in the 153M Driver's License Breach Sep 14, 2026](https://codekeeper.co/ticker/idscan-data-breach-exposes-153-million-licenses)

[Ransomware Gang Teams Up With Supply Chain Hackers in "Industrialized" Attack Model Aug 12, 2026](https://codekeeper.co/ticker/sophos-warns-of-vect-teampcp-cyber-threat)

[North Korea's Lazarus Group Exploits Windows Kernel Zero-Day to Deploy Upgraded Rootkit Aug 12, 2026](https://codekeeper.co/ticker/north-korea-lazarus-zero-day-exploit)

[Data breaches NHS Worker Shared Patient Records With Partner, Victims Demand Justice Aug 20, 2026](https://codekeeper.co/ticker/somerset-nhs-data-breach-patient-privacy-concerns)