GMO Offers $1 Million Bounty for Hackers as Japanese Brokers Tighten Logins
By Damian Chmiel
AI summary of the source article
GMO Internet Group offered up to $1 million for information on hackers who breached its trading server service after refusing an extortion demand. Following the breach and unauthorized trades, Japanese brokers are tightening client login security and mandating two-step authentication.
Why it matters
"Account takeovers at online brokers were already a policy issue: fraudulent trades on hijacked accounts exceeded ¥500 billion between March and May 2025."
Key facts
- GMO Internet Group offered a bounty of up to $1 million after hackers published customer data following GMO's refusal of an ¥8 billion demand.
- Brokers including FXTF, Dukascopy Japan, and OANDA Japan are strengthening security, with FXTF locking out clients who do not enable two-step login.
- GMO outlined compensation in a Tokyo Stock Exchange filing, including ¥5,000 per user and repayment of realized losses from unauthorized trades.
Source excerpt · Finance Magnates
GMO Internet Group offered up to $1 million for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the hackers who breached its trading server service. The site where the attackers had posted customer data went offline early today (Wednesday). The attackers began publishing what they said was customer data on Tuesday , after GMO refused a demand of about ¥8 billion (about $50 million). GMO…