GMO Internet warns of potential web services availability issues, stops supporting older TLS protocols
GMO Internet will stop supporting TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1, as it seeks to enhance security of its web services.
GMO Internet Inc. (TYO:9449) has informed its clients that as a result of its efforts to boost security, customers may experience troubles using some of its web services. The main change that the company will implement is the suspension of older versions of Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols.
Starting this month, GMO Internet will stop supporting TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1 to boost the security of our customers’ Internet communication. As a result, customers may not be able to use part of the company’s web services on old PCs, browsers, and smartphones that are not compatible with TLS 1.2.
The purpose is to have the details of the Internet communication encrypted so that a third party cannot get access to them and that data fraud is prevented. The security strength of TLS 1.2 is higher than that of TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1, the company notes.
The list of operating environments that are expected to be affected includes:
- PC: browser;
- Internet Explorer 10 or earlier;
- Google Chrome 29 or earlier;
- Firefox 26 or earlier;
Smartphone and tablet computer
- Android 4.0.4 or earlier;
- iOS Safari 4 or earlier;
- 3G mobile phone and PHS.
The broker notes that some customers may be able to use GMO’s web services on older smartphones and tablet computers if they are updated. But the TLS 1.2 has to be activated through the browser’s security settings.
The changes are introduced several months after GMO Internet unveiled its plans to bolster cyber defenses by establishing a “Group Information Security Audit Office”. Through these steps, GMO Internet aims to protect important customer information from increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks. The company also seeks to improve information security literacy and to foster security personnel.
A week before that, GMO Coin, the virtual currency business of GMO Internet, submitted its business improvement plan in accordance with the orders issued by the Kanto Local Finance Bureau.
The plan outlined measures such as the establishment of an effective management system, as well as the creation of a contingency plan to be implemented in case of a system failure. The plan also enlisted improvements to the information security and cyber security systems of GMO Coin, as well as enhancements to the quality management and configuration management systems.
