Asahi Faces Cybersecurity Crisis: Potential Data Breach Following Ransomware Attack

Mon Oct 20 2025 16:14:05 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Japan's largest brewer, Asahi, halted beer production due to a cyber-attack that may have compromised personal data. The company is currently investigating the full impact while operations resume using manual processes.

Asahi, Japan's leading brewer, has experienced severe disruptions due to a ransomware attack that forced most of its factories to halt operations. The company is investigating whether personal data was compromised during the incident, which has veered operations back to manual methods like pen and paper. Asahi has vowed to notify those affected and is working with cybersecurity experts to restore its systems as quickly as possible. This incident raises concerns amid a rise in cyber-attacks targeting major organizations.

Personal data may have been stolen in the ransomware attack that forced Asahi to halt beer production, the company has said.

Japan's biggest brewer was forced to pause operations at most of its 30 factories in the country after a cyber-attack late last month disrupted everything from beer shipments to its accounting system.

All of Asahi's facilities have now partially reopened and restarted production but computer systems remain down, meaning orders are being processed using pen, paper and fax machines.

In a statement on Tuesday, Asahi said it was investigating whether personal information was stolen in the attack.

The company stated that its Emergency Response Headquarters were working with cybersecurity experts to restore the system as quickly as possible and would contact those affected by the hack.

Asahi outlined that they are investigating the extent of the impact, noting the possibility of unauthorized data transfer involving personal information. If this is confirmed, the company will promptly notify concerned individuals and take necessary actions based on applicable laws.

The specific types of personal data compromised remain unclear, as Asahi refrained from providing further details while investigations are ongoing.

Asahi Group also owns Fullers in the UK and global brands including Peroni, Grolsch, and Pilsner Urquell. However, only its Japanese operations, which constitute about 50% of its sales, have been affected by the attack.

Asahi also apologized for any inconvenience caused by this incident and has announced a delay in disclosing its third-quarter financial results due to operational disruptions caused by the attack.

The ransomware group Qilin, based in Russia, has claimed responsibility for this incident, which follows their previous attacks on various organizations, including the NHS.

This cyber-attack is the latest in a concerning trend impacting major firms, with other companies like Jaguar Land Rover and Marks and Spencer experiencing similar threats this year. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre has indicated a substantial rise in nationally significant cyber-attacks, averaging four a week, and they urge businesses to enhance their cybersecurity measures.