Japan's nationwide emergency alert system is at risk of being triggered by fake data due to a lack of encryption and source verification capabilities, a cybersecurity expert said on Sunday.
According to the expert, data transmitted via satellite to local authorities to activate the alert system is neither encrypted nor authenticated, leaving a vulnerability open to cyberattacks where hackers could send spoofed data to trigger false alerts.
The assessment comes as Japan ramps up preparedness for emergency scenarios such as natural disasters or missile attacks, where the emergency alert system plays a critical role in notifying the public.
The expert stressed the urgency of upgrading the system to ensure information security and prevent public panic amid increasingly sophisticated security threats.
