Kyushu Electric Power Data Breach: 10.9 Million Customer Records Exposed
In April 2026, Kyushu Electric Power Co., Inc., a major Japanese utility company, experienced a significant data breach involving the loss of an external storage device containing personal information of approximately 10.9 million customers. The device, used for routine data backups, was stored in a server room cabinet with multiple physical security layers. On May 26, IT staff discovered the cabinet unlocked and the device missing. The data included customer names, service addresses, electricity usage data, telephone numbers, and names of retail electricity providers. Notably, no bank account or credit card information was stored on the device. The company has notified affected customers and relevant authorities, including Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. Investigations are ongoing, with no evidence of data leakage confirmed as of now. This incident underscores the critical importance of robust physical security measures and strict access controls for sensitive data storage. It highlights the need for organizations to regularly review and enhance their data protection protocols to prevent unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
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