The Washington Hotel group in Japan has confirmed that it recently experienced a ransomware attack on part of its internal computer systems. The company publicly disclosed the incident through an official notice. According to the statement, the issue was identified late at night on February 13, 2026, at around 10:00 PM local time. Suspicious activity was detected on certain servers, which were later found to be infected with ransomware.
As soon as the unusual activity was discovered, the hotel immediately disconnected the affected servers from the internet. This step was taken to stop the infection from spreading further across the network. The company also began checking its systems to understand how the breach happened. Quick action was taken to control the situation and reduce potential damage.
Following the discovery, Washington Hotel formed an internal emergency response team. The company also brought in external cybersecurity specialists to assist with technical investigation and recovery. Law enforcement authorities were notified about the incident as part of standard procedure. The investigation is still ongoing to determine the full impact of the attack.
The hotel confirmed that the attackers gained access to certain business-related data stored on the infected servers. However, the company stated that customer personal information is unlikely to have been affected. Sensitive guest data is stored on separate servers managed by another company. So far, there is no evidence that those separate systems were breached.
Washington Hotel clarified that the compromised servers mainly contained internal operational data. These systems were not used to store customer personal records. Even so, the company is carefully reviewing all systems to confirm whether any data was copied or leaked. Further updates will be shared if new findings emerge.
Some hotel operations were temporarily affected because of the incident. At certain properties, credit card payment terminals were unavailable for a short period. Despite this inconvenience, the company reported no major disruption to guest stays or reservations. Hotels continued operating while recovery work was being carried out.
The financial impact of the ransomware attack is still being evaluated. The company is assessing costs related to system recovery and investigation. At this time, no ransomware group has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack. It is common for such groups to post claims online, but no announcement has been seen so far.
Washington Hotel operates around 30 properties across Japan and serves millions of guests each year. The company has assured customers that it is taking the matter seriously and strengthening its security measures. This incident highlights the growing cybersecurity risks faced by businesses worldwide. The investigation remains ongoing as the company works to restore all systems fully.
Stay alert, and keep your security measures updated!
Source: Follow cybersecurity88 on X and LinkedIn for the latest cybersecurity news
