TOKYO: Japanese electronics and machinery giant NEC Corp. suffered cyberattacks several times until fiscal 2018, and its internal network system was hacked temporarily, informed sources said Thursday.

There is a possibility of national security-related defense information leaking from the company, which has business with the Japanese Defense Ministry, analysts said.

An NEC public relations official said: "We have confirmed no leak of information to date although there have been suspected cases of attempting to illegally break into our company-wide network system."

Earlier this month, Mitsubishi Electric Corp. which also has defense-related business, said that its internal network system had been hit by cyberattacks.

The cases at the Japanese companies came at a time when rumors are rife that a Chinese hacker group is attempting to steal defense-linked confidential information around the world.

JIJI Press