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.

By Content Team

Jun 26, 2026

ON THIS PAGE

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

Have questions about protecting your software?

Our escrow experts are standing by to help.

Book a free demo

Want more insights like this?