Toyota confirms a large data leak exposing vehicle data tied to Japan drivers
Toyota Motor Corp disclosed a data incident that affected about 2.15 million drivers in Japan. The information leaked stems from a cloud configuration error that left certain data exposed to the internet. The records include vehicle location data and vehicle identification numbers, covering a period from November 2013 through April 2023. Reuters reported the initial details of the breach.
People who used the official T-Connect app and Lexus owners who relied on the G-Link service were among those impacted. Toyota stated there is no current evidence that cybercriminals used the leaked data to commit crimes, and the company apologized for the inconvenience caused by this exposure.
In response to the breach, Toyota moved quickly to block access to the exposed data and remove it from public view. An internal review of the companys cloud services is underway to determine how the leak occurred and to prevent similar incidents in the future. Toyota emphasized its commitment to protecting customer information and to strengthening its security practices across connected platforms.
As the company continues its investigation, it is guiding affected users to monitor account activity and to report any suspicious incidents. The incident underscores the ongoing need for rigorous cloud security, especially for automakers whose connected vehicle ecosystems increasingly rely on cloud storage and data sharing across services.
Note: This summary consolidates information reported by Reuters and reflects the situation as it stood at the time of reporting. Ongoing updates will be issued by Toyota as investigations progress and new details emerge.