Toyota Data Leaks Affecting Customers in Asia, Oceania, and Japan

Toyota, the Japanese automaker, has recently revealed two separate incidents that have led to the exposure of private information from customers in Japan, Asia, and Oceania. The first incident involved Toyota Connected Corporation, where some files managed by the company in the cloud for overseas dealers’ maintenance requirements and investigation of systems were accessible externally due to a misconfiguration. The second incident was limited to Japan and affected approximately 260,000 customers using the Lexus G-Link connected services. In both cases, customer details including addresses, names, phone numbers, email addresses, customer IDs, vehicle registration numbers, and vehicle identification numbers were publicly accessible.

The first leak affected customers in Asia and Oceania and was available to the public between October 2016 and May 2023. Toyota has not disclosed how many customers were impacted but confirmed that it is investigating the issue based on the laws and regulations of each country. The second leak was limited to Japan and occurred between February 9, 2015, and May 12, 2023. It did not include any data that can be used to identify owners.

Toyota believes that both incidents were caused by insufficient dissemination and enforcement of data handling rules. The carmaker has since implemented a system to monitor cloud configurations and has found no evidence of the secondary use of information that was available, nor has it found any third-party copies of the information.

Impact on Customers

The recent data leaks have put Toyota customers’ private information at risk. The exposure of customer details such as names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, customer IDs, vehicle registration numbers, and vehicle identification numbers can lead to identity theft, fraud, and other malicious activities. Customers affected by the data leaks may receive unsolicited calls or emails from scammers posing as Toyota representatives or other legitimate organizations.

Toyota has not disclosed how many customers were affected by the data leaks, but the carmaker has assured its customers that it is taking the necessary steps to investigate the incidents and prevent similar occurrences in the future. The company has also advised its customers to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to their personal information.

Toyota’s Response

Toyota has taken responsibility for the data leaks and has apologized to its customers. The carmaker has also assured its customers that it is taking steps to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. Toyota has implemented a system to monitor cloud configurations and has reinforced its data handling rules to prevent any unauthorized access to customer information.

Toyota has also promised to work closely with authorities and regulators in each country to investigate the incidents and ensure that its customers’ private information is protected. The carmaker has advised its customers to contact their local Toyota dealerships or customer service centers for more information.

Conclusion

The recent data leaks affecting Toyota customers in Japan, Asia, and Oceania have put their private information at risk. Toyota has taken responsibility for the incidents and has assured its customers that it is taking steps to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The carmaker has implemented a system to monitor cloud configurations and has reinforced its data handling rules to prevent any unauthorized access to customer information. Toyota has also promised to work closely with authorities and regulators in each country to investigate the incidents and ensure that its customers’ private information is protected. Customers affected by the data leaks are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to their personal information.