Toyota: Data on more than 2 million vehicles in Japan were at risk in decade-long breach

Toyota announced Friday that a decade-long data breach in its popular online service exposed information on over 2 million automobiles.

Toyota spokeswoman Hideaki Homma claimed the cloud-based Connected service issue only affected Japanese automobiles from January 2012 to April 2023.

The Connected service helps owners with emergencies, maintenance inspections, and streaming entertainment. It can aid after a crash or find a stolen automobile.

No breach-related issues have been reported.

The data at risk includes the vehicle identification number, which is different from the license plate; the vehicle’s location and time; and video footage from the vehicle’s “drive recorder” in Japan.

Toyota Motor Corp., which manufacturers the Prius hybrid and Lexus luxury cars, says such data cannot identify owners.

G-Link, G-Book, and Connected users have 2.15 million vehicles affected.

Toyota’s Japan subsidiary runs Connected. Homma claimed no one realized outside access to such information should have been disabled until recently.

He apologized for causing everyone so much difficulty.

Japan’s top automaker, known for quality and precision, is embarrassed by the issue.

Global automakers are striving to attract buyers with cutting-edge technology.

Homma stated the system fault has been fixed, so Connect-enabled vehicles can be driven as usual without needing maintenance.