NTT Docomo, Japan’s premier telecommunications and IT service provider, found itself in the midst of chaos on January 2, 2025, as a malicious Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack targeted its network infrastructure. The repercussions of this cyber onslaught reverberated through the company’s operations, causing disruptions that plagued its customers for nearly 11 grueling hours, from the early hours of 5:27 a.m. until 4:10 p.m.
The impact of this attack on NTT Docomo’s services was profound, leading to significant delays and challenges with several vital offerings that customers rely on. The ramifications were felt across various platforms, with popular services such as Goo services, Docomo’s go-to portal for internet searches and content, experiencing disruptions. Additionally, the OCN top page, essential for internet connections, was affected, along with d Menu News, a trusted news aggregation service, Lemino’s search function, d Pay’s shopping search function, and GOLF me, an app catering to golf enthusiasts. While attempts were made to restore these services promptly, recovery efforts were hampered by delays in updating content, leaving some systems with restricted functionality. Customers were advised to check the respective service websites for the latest updates amid the turmoil caused by the cyber assault.
The root cause of this disruptive attack, as per an official statement from NTT Docomo, was identified as a DDoS attack that inundated the company’s servers with an overwhelming volume of automated traffic, resulting in severe network congestion. The nefarious nature of such cyber onslaughts is to deplete server resources and impede access to services for legitimate users. In a separate incident, Docomo’s dPayment system encountered intermittent disruptions between 10:50 a.m. and 11:08 a.m. on the same day, although it was clarified that this issue was unrelated to the DDoS attack and has since been rectified.
Expressing remorse for the inconvenience caused by the prolonged service outage, NTT Docomo issued a public apology, emphasizing their commitment to prioritizing service stability. The company conveyed their deep regret to customers and vowed to fortify their cybersecurity defenses to thwart potential future threats. While the immediate impact of the DDoS attack has been contained, specifics regarding the attackers and the scale of the incident have not been divulged by Docomo.
As efforts to recover and reinforce cybersecurity measures persist, NTT Docomo reassured its customers of their unwavering dedication to safeguarding against similar cyber threats in the future. The company’s proactive approach to enhancing security protocols serves as a testament to their commitment to maintaining the integrity and reliability of their services, in the face of ever-evolving cyber risks.